Feb. 28, 2016
CORONA DEL MAR, Calif. - No. 19 San Diego State dropped another heartbreaker, this time to No. 17 UC Santa Barbara in overtime, 7-6, at the UCI Invitational at Corona del Mar High School. The Aztecs' third straight one-goal defeat puts them at 4-8 on the season.
The pivotal moment in the game came with four seconds left in OT when the Gauchos drew an ejection on Tayla Walsh. That allowed UCSB to gather itself for one last attempt at the game-winner and Lauren Martin obliged as she scored with one second left on the clock.
Prior to the unfortunate final seconds of the game, the Aztecs had an opportunity to move ahead by one with 18 seconds remaining, but Caroline Israels' breakaway attempt was thwarted by the UCSB defense. The score was tied at 6-6 thanks to Ioli Benekou's second of the day with 52 seconds left on the clock.
San Diego State showed some resiliency in forcing overtime. The Aztecs led, 1-0, but UC Santa Barbara scored four consecutive goals to take a 4-1 lead. SDSU, however, answered with four unanswered goals of its own to move ahead, 5-4 with 5:24 left in the fourth period. The Aztecs, unfortunately, could not hold the lead, allowing the equalizer with 2:08 left in regulation.
Benekou led the Aztecs with two goals, while Nikole Ferrari, Taylor Gums, Caroline Israels and Walsh all scored once. Rachel Mitchell had eight saves between the pipes.
SDSU will return to the pool at 5:15 p.m. PT against T-No. 25 CSUN at Corona del Mar High School.
No. 17 UC Santa Barbara 7, No. 19 San Diego State 6 (OT)
Corona del Mar High School; Corona del Mar, Calif.
SDSU 1-0-3-1—0-1---6
UCSB 0-2-2-1—0-2---7
SDSU goals: Benekou 2, Ferrari 1, Gums 1, Israels 1, Walsh 1
UCSB goals: Thomas 2, Trabucco 2, Martin 1, Schurer 1, Shore 1
SDSU saves: Mitchell 8
UCSB saves: Brokaw 7