April 2, 2016
SAN DIEGO -- The 20th-ranked San Diego State water polo team split two home games on Saturday, falling to No. 1 USC by a 13-3 count in the morning, before rebounding with a decisive 17-4 victory over Golden Coast Conference rival Fresno Pacific in the afternoon at Aztec Aquaplex. With the results, SDSU moves to 11-13 on the season and keeps its conference mark unblemished at 3-0.
Against FPU, the Aztecs produced their highest scoring output of the year, led by the junior combo of Caroline Israels (Pompano Beach, Fla.) and Alyssa Diacono (Ladera Ranch, Calif.), who each netted a hat trick, while fellow classmates Makena Magro (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Mikayla Vessey (Redlands, Calif.) scored two goals each, along with senior Tayla Walsh (Sydney, Australia).
After yielding the first marker of the contest to the Sunbirds' Mikayla Scheer with 4:44 elapsed in the first quarter, SDSU finally got its offense in gear, erupting for seven straight goals during the remainder of the half to build a commanding lead by intermission. Walsh put the Scarlet and Black on the scoreboard with a strike at the 2:42 mark of the first period and completed a long outlet pass shortly thereafter to Israels, who beat FPU goalkeeper Courtney Hall, to give the Aztecs the lead for good.
At the outset of the second quarter, SDSU quickly capitalized on a Sunbird mistake as Diacono picked up a loose ball in front of the FPU goal and flipped it into the back of the cage for her first tally of the game. The Aztec center also converted a shot from point-blank range with 4:43 to go in the period after sprinting in all alone on a counter-attack. Then just before the break, Israels launched an arcing shot from mid-pool that somehow found its way into the net, providing the host school with a 7-1 cushion.
Magro also dialed up from long distance for SDSU's first goal of the third quarter, burying a strike from the wing into the upper-left corner of the cage, while Israels hit pay dirt on the Aztecs' next possession with a double-skipped ball. Moments later, Walsh converted a five-meter penalty shot, while sophomore Elizabeth Bilz (San Diego, Calif.) got into the act with her second goal of the season.
The Sunbirds finally ended their offensive drought with a pair of markers in the final 3:36 of the third period by Julia Ponce and Emily Marr. However, SDSU kept firing on all cylinders in the final frame, with sophomore reserves Katrina King (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Sarah Crist (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) entering the scoring column to put finishing touches on a thorough conquest.
Senior goalkeeper Rachel Mitchell (Danville, Calif.) made four saves in the game, before giving way to sophomore Kathleen McDonnell (Tualatin, Ore.) in the fourth quarter. Walsh also aided in the defensive effort with a team-high four steals, while Diacono drew three ejections.
Earlier, the Aztecs were unable to muster enough of a scoring punch against the nation's top-ranked team en route to a 13-3 setback at the hands of USC.
The Women of Troy opened with two quick goals, including a breakaway by Nikki Stansfield at the 7:18 mark of the first quarter, and never looked back. Walsh put the Scarlet and Black on the board with a nifty backhand shot into the upper-left corner of the net just two minutes later; however, the home team was shut out for the remainder of the half.
In the interim, USC padded its lead with six goals, including two by Stephania Haralabidis on a pair of 6-on-5 opportunities. Haralabidis also found daylight on a strike in the third period to complete the hat trick.
In all, the Women of Troy had 10 different players score goals, including two by Brigitta Games, while Amanda Longan stopped 10 shots in front of the net.
Conversely, SDSU managed just two additional scores in the contest by senior Nicole Ferrari (Redwood City, Calif.) and junior Ioli Benekou (Marousi, Greece). The Aztec cause was also aided by sophomore Brigette Kimbrough (San Clemente, Calif.), who came up with three steals, while Walsh drew two ejections.
San Diego State returns to action next weekend when it heads north for three straight road games at Santa Clara (April 8), No. 12 Pacific (April 9) and No. 3 Stanford (April 10).
No. 1 USC 13, No. 20 SAN DIEGO STATE 3
Aztec Aquaplex; San Diego, Calif.
USC 4-4-2-3 -- 13
SDSU 1-0-1-1 -- 3
SDSU Goals
Benekou 1, Ferrari 1 Walsh 1
USC Goals
S. Haralabidis 3, Games 2, Bergesen 1, Daboub 1, Fahey 1, I. Haralabidis 1, Jensen 1, Peterson 1, Presten 1, Stansfield 1
SDSU Saves
Mitchell 5, McDonnell 1
USC Saves
Longan 10
No. 20 SAN DIEGO STATE 17, FRESNO PACIFIC 4
FPU 1-0-2-1 --4
SDSU 2-5-4-6 -- 17
SDSU Goals
Israels 3, Diacono 3, Mk. Magro 2, Vessey 2, Walsh 2, Benekou 1, Bilz 1, Crist 1, Gums 1, King 1
FPU Goals
Ponce 2, Marr 1, Scheer 1
SDSU Saves
Mitchell 4, McDonnell 1
FPU Saves
Hall 7, Drum 2