Feb. 13, 2016
SAN DIEGO - No. 18 San Diego State dropped its opening game at the UCSD Triton Invitational to No. 16 Loyola Marymount, 7-4, Saturday morning at Canyonview Pool. The decision dropped the Aztecs to 1-4 on the season and puts them in the consolation bracket.
The Lions led, 4-0, before SDSU was able to dent the scoreboard. LMU received first-quarter goals from Ivana Castro and Hana Vilanova, and a pair from Erin Byrne in the second to go up by four. Tayla Walsh ended San Diego State's drought with a goal 27 seconds before the halftime horn sounded.
In the third period, Loyola Marymount stretched its lead to 6-1 behind two goals from Bridgette Alvarez. Ioli Benekou got one back for the Aztecs with a goal under three minutes left in the frame, but LMU added another thanks to Vilanova's second of the morning.
San Diego State cut into its deficit in the fourth quarter with single goals from Courtney Jarvis and Benekou, the last of which came with 5:37 left in regulation. For the balance of the game, the Aztecs were not able to get their offense going despite holding the Lions off the scoreboard, sending SDSU to its third consecutive loss.
The Aztecs return to UC San Diego's Canyonview Pool at 1:50 p.m. PT to face Sonoma State, which lost its first game of the tournament to top-ranked UCLA, 17-1.
No. 16 Loyola Marymount 7, No. 18 San Diego State 4
Canyonview Pool; San Diego, Calif.
SDSU 0-1-1-2—4
LMU 2-2-3-0—7
SDSU goals: Ioli Benekou 2, Courtney Jarvis 1, Tayla Walsh 1
LMU goals: Bridgette Alvarez 2, Erin Byrne 2, Hana Vilanova 2, Ivana Castro
SDSU saves: Unavailable
LMU saves: Unavailable