Feb. 27, 2016
IRVINE, Calif. - No. 19 San Diego State rallied to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but allowed a San José State goal with four seconds left to fall, 14-13, to the Spartans Saturday afternoon at the UCI Invitational. It was the Aztecs' second one-goal defeat of the tournament and falls to 4-7 on the season.
SDSU trailed 11-10 heading into the fourth quarter and its deficit was doubled after SJSU scored with 5:46 left in the game. More than two minutes passed and Tayla Walsh scored on a power-play opportunity to keep the Aztecs close. The Spartans, however, tacked on another goal with 2:18 remaining, but San Diego State would not go quietly.
As the clock dipped under 2:00, Ioli Benekou scored to make it a one-goal game. Then on its next possession, Walsh provided the equalizer with 84 seconds to play. San Diego State got the stop it needed on defense as it forced a turnover, but on the next trip down came empty on offense. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, they were called for an ejection and the Spartans' Carla Toha Vilanova found the back of the net with four seconds left to provide the winner.
San Diego State led after the first and second quarters, 4-3 and 7-6, respectively. The Aztecs also led, 9-7, with just over four minutes left in the third quarter as well, before San José State leveled the score at 9-9 with 3:44 left in third.
Benekou led the Aztecs with six goals, which is a season-high for San Diego State, and was followed by Walsh's three goals. Alyssa Diacono, Nikole Ferrari, Caroline Israels and Makena Magro each scored one goal apiece. Rachel Mitchell had five saves in net for SDSU.
No. 11 San José State 14, No. 19 San Diego State 13
Corona del Mar High School; Corona del Mar, Calif.
SDSU 4-3-3-3—13
SJSU 3-3-5-3—14
SDSU goals: Benekou 6, Walsh 3, Diacono 1, Ferrari 1, Israels 1, Magro 1
SJSU goals: Vilanova 7, Lekness 2, Leabo 1, Momen 1, Paradi 1, Robinson 1, Yates 1
SDSU saves: Mitchell 5
SJSU saves: Peters 4, Magliocco 3