April 8, 2016
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - No. 18 San Diego State improved to 4-0 in Golden Coast action with its 9-3 road win at Santa Clara Friday afternoon. The Aztecs, who outscored the Broncos, 5-1, in the second half upped their overall record to 12-13, while SCU fell to 8-12 (1-2 GCC).
Caroline Israels gave SDSU an early 2-0 lead by scoring the only goal in the first quarter and adding a second goal 22 ticks into the second period. Taylor Gums tripled the Aztecs' advantage just over two minutes later, only to have Santa Clara's Elle Surber dent the scoreboard for the first time for the homestanding Broncos. On the next possession, Israels tallied her team-leading eighth hat trick with a 6-on-5 goal that gave the Aztecs a 4-1 lead. Hannah Buck, however, scored with just under two minutes to play in the half to cut SCU's deficit to 4-2 at halftime.
The Broncos came out of the mid-game break by striking first, this time the goal coming from Susan Providenza. San Diego State, though, did not blink an eye by the fact Santa Clara had trimmed its lead to one. The Aztecs answered two minutes with a goal from Tayla Walsh, the GCC Player of the Week. SDSU then closed the quarter with goals from Alyssa Diacono and Gums in the final 90 seconds to propel the visitors to a 7-3 lead entering the final eight minutes.
In the fourth quarter, neither team scored until there was 1:58 left in the contest. Katrina King ended the scoring drought with her sixth goal of the season. Walsh later added one final goal with less than 10 seconds remaining to provide the final margin.
The Aztecs continue their trek around Northern California on Saturday when they face No. 12 Pacific at 1 p.m. PT in Stockton. The game, which will stream live at PacificTigers.com, will feature the only two unbeaten teams in the Golden Coast. SDSU enters at 4-0, while the Tigers come in a 3-0 after beating Fresno Pacific on Friday.
No. 18 San Diego State 9, Santa Clara 3
Sullivan Aquatic Center; Santa Clara, Calif.
SDSU 1-3-3-2—9
SCU 0-2-1-0—3
SDSU goals: Israels 3, Gums 2, Walsh 2, Diacono, King
SCU goals: Buck, Providenza, Surber
SDSU saves: unavailable
SCU saves: unavailable