April 9, 2016
STOCKTON, Calif. - In a battle of the only two unbeaten teams in Golden Coast action, No. 18 San Diego State emerged with a 10-7 road win at No. 12 Pacific on a damp Saturday afternoon at Kjeldsen Pool in Stockton. The Aztecs leveled their overall record at 13-13 and moved to 5-0 in GCC play. The Tigers, meanwhile, dropped to 10-15 (3-1 GCC).
SDSU did a good job of closing quarters on this day despite Pacific scoring the first goal of the game and leading 5-3 midway through the second quarter. Looking back at the first period, both squads traded goals with Caroline Israels posting both of the Aztecs' goals in the frame, including the final of the quarter, which tied the game at 2-2.
As the game moved to the second, the Tigers took a 5-3 lead only to see San Diego State answer with authority. Following UOP's fifth goal, Tayla Walsh, the GCC Player of the Week, scored on SDSU's next possession and Katy Schneider followed suit with the game-tying goal. Then right before halftime, Makena Magro put her touch-shot on a 6-on-5 opportunity past UOP's goalkeeper to make it a 6-5 game at the break.
In the third quarter, Pacific provided some resistance early as it scored two goals to move ahead, 7-6. But like the second quarter, SDSU responded by scoring four straight goals to jump out to a 10-7 lead. After the Tigers took their one-goal lead, the Aztecs received single goals from Walsh and Israels, and a pair from Taylor Gums, the last of which came through a triple team.
SDSU was in no hurry on offense in the fourth quarter and did not find the back of the net. Its defense, though, saved its best for last as it kept Pacific off the scoreboard to preserve the three-goal edge and the victory.
Anchoring the Aztec defense was goalkeeper Rachel Mitchell, who made 15 saves, her second-highest total of the season and ninth double-digit save performance of 2016. Israels' hat trick was her ninth of the year, while Walsh and Gums posted their sixth and fifth multi-goal games of the season, respectively. Harrah Carrillo, meanwhile, added three assists.
San Diego State completes its Northern California road trip on Sunday when it plays at No. 3 Stanford. First sprint is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT and the game will air on Pac-12 Bay Area and Pac-12.com.
No. 18 San Diego State 10, No. 12 Pacific 7
Kjeldsen Pool; Stockton, Calif.
SDSU 2-4-4-0—10
UOP 2-3-2-0—7
SDSU goals: Israels 4, Gums 2, Walsh 2, Magro, Schneider
UOP goals: Hlavata 2, Krieger 2, Szmodics 2, Tiedemann
SDSU saves: Mitchell 15
UOP saves: Hollinrake 8