Feb. 27, 2016
IRVINE, Calif. - No. 19 San Diego State nearly upset second-ranked UCLA on Saturday at the UCI Invitational. The Aztecs entered the fourth quarter tied 4-4, but ultimately fell to the Bruins, 6-5, to fall to 4-6 on the season.
UCLA led, 2-0, after one quarter and Ioli Benekou sliced SDSU's deficit in half with a penalty-shot goal just over a minute into the second period. The Bruins answered with a goal of their own, but Tayla Walsh kept San Diego State within striking distance with her lone tally and Benekou leveled the score with 2:49 left. UCLA added another goal just before halftime to lead, 4-3.
In the third quarter, the Aztecs locked up the Bruins defensively and was able to score the only goal of the quarter when Makena Magro found the back of the net with 58 seconds left in the frame. For Magro, it was her fourth goal in her last two games.
In the final eight minutes, UCLA was able to earn a pair of goals to take a 6-4 lead with 2:22 left in regulation. Unfortunately for San Diego State, it was only able to muster an Alyssa Diacono goal with 11 seconds left as it fell just short of forcing overtime.
SDSU returns to the pool at Corona del Mar High School at 2:45 p.m. PT when it faces No. 11 San José State.
No. 2 UCLA 6, No. 19 San Diego State 5
Corona del Mar High School; Corona del Mar, Calif.
SDSU 0-3-1-1—5
UCLA 2-2-0-2—6
SDSU goals: Benekou 2, Diacono 1, Magro 1, Walsh 1
UCLA goals: Tielmann 2, Burr 1, Forster 1, Grub 1, Pratt 1
SDSU saves: Mitchell 6
UCLA saves: Musselman 12