Jan. 30, 2016
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - No. 15 San Diego State evened its record on the opening day of the season with a 15-12 victory over 17th-ranked Hartwick. The Aztecs scored seven goals in the second quarter to help create the separation they needed to post their first win of the season.
Following an even 4-4 first quarter, San Diego State pulled away from Hartwick late in the second period. With the score tied at 7-7, Hannah Carrillo found the back of the net two times in a row for the Aztecs, once off a look from Taylor Gums and the other from Nikole Ferrari. Then to complete the half, SDSU received goals from Ioli Benekou and Caroline Israels, both on the power play, to give SDSU a commanding 11-7 advantage.
After intermission, Israels continued the Aztecs' scoring run with a goal 21 seconds into the third period and Benekou answered with two more goals for SDSU to put it up, 14-7, with just under five minutes left. The Hawks closed the final three minutes with single tallies from Zsofia Polak and Nicolina Mihaljlovik to narrow their deficit to 14-9.
In the fourth, Hartwick looked to make a comeback by outscoring San Diego State, 3-1, but SDSU's offensive production in the first 24 minutes proved to be too much.
Tayla Walsh led the Aztecs with eight shot attempts, while Israels took seven. Goalkeeper Rachel Mitchell was strong in between the pipes with seven saves.
San Diego State continues its weekend in Ann Arbor with two more games on Sunday. The Aztecs will face No. 24 Marist at 8:30 a.m. ET and No. 11 UC Santa Barbara at 2:40 p.m. ET.
No. 15 San Diego State 15, No. 17 Hartwick 12
SDSU 4-7-3-1—15
HART 4-3-2-3—12
SDSU goals: Ioli Benekou 4, Hannah Carrillo 2, Alyssa Diacono 2, Taylor Gums 2, Caroline Israels 2, Tayla Walsh 2, Nikole Ferrari
HART goals: Zsofia Polak 5, Nicolina Mihaljlovik 2, Lauren Brennan, Charlotte Cottle, Natalie May, Katie McKenty, Brittany Tait
SDSU saves: Rachel Mitchell 7
HART saves: Michaela Davies 12