May 13, 2016
LOS ANGELES -
San Diego State could not overcome a slow start and fell to USC, 12-3, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship on Friday at Spieker Aquatics Center. The loss sends the Aztecs to the consolation side of the bracket and drops their overall record to 18-17.
The Women of Troy scored on their first three possessions and received all three goals from three different players (Brianna Daboub, Hayle McKelvey, Brigitta Games). The Aztecs settled down and kept USC off the scoreboard for more than three minutes before the Women of Troy added a fourth goal from Avery Peterson. SDSU got on the scoreboard 30 seconds later when Caroline Israels' backhand tickled the twine, but USC tacked on one final goal with 58 seconds to play to increase its lead to 5-1 heading into the second period.
San Diego State's defense continued to slow the USC offensive attack when play resumed, but the nation's top-ranked team broke through 90 seconds into the quarter on a 6-on-5 goal from McKelvey. SDSU held USC to a couple more empty possessions, but the Women of Troy solved the Aztec scheme, resulting in a Melissa Bergesen goal. Similar to the first quarter, Israels answered the USC goal with another one of her own, slotting her shot into the right side of the cage. USC made it an 8-2 game with a Stephania Haralabidis goal with 2:08 left in the half.
Defense continued to be the theme for the Aztecs as they held USC to only two goals in the third quarter, one from Dagmar Gudmundsson (4:41) and the other from Daboub (3:28). But as strong as San Diego State's effort was, USC's was that much better, holding the Aztecs to a Mikayla Vessey goal with 56 seconds left in the quarter.
In the fourth, San Diego State's defense held firm once again, allowing single goals from McKelvey and Bergesen. Offensively, the Aztecs were held scoreless as the game ended in a nine-goal defeat that sent them to the consolation side of the bracket.
SDSU will face Arizona State on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. PT. The Sun Devils lost to Michigan on Friday, 5-4. A live stream of the game and live stats will be available at GoAztecs.com.
No. 1 USC 12, T-No. 13 San Diego State 3 ââ'¬" NCAA Quarterfinal
Spieker Aquatics Center; Los Angeles, Calif.
SDSU 1-1-1-0-3
USC 5-3-2-2-12
SDSU goals: Israels 2, Vessey
USC goals: McKelvey 3, Bergesen 2, Daboub 2, Games 2, Gudmundsson, Haralabidis, Peterson
SDSU saves: Mitchell 13
USC saves: Longan 6, Chamorro 4