Feb. 11, 2017
SAN DIEGO - No. 17 San Diego State split two games on the first day of the UCSD Triton Invitational on Saturday. The Aztecs defeated No. 16 Hartwick, 11-7, before falling to second-ranked USC, 17-4. The results put SDSU at 3-3 on the season.
In the first game of a doubleheader in La Jolla, the Aztecs and Hawks were tied at 1-1 after one quarter with San Diego State pulling ahead after 16 minutes, 4-2, thanks to a three-goal second period. SDSU matched its second-quarter output in the third with another three goals, but Hartwick hung around by scoring two goals of its own. The Aztecs led, 7-4, entering the final eight minutes and made a statement, scoring four times while only giving up three goals to provide the final margin.
Caroline Israels scored once in each of the four quarters vs. Hartwick to lead the Aztecs with four goals. Courtney Jarvis added two goals, while Ioli Benekou, Katy Schneider, Katrina King, Alyssa Diacono and Paola Vizcarra chipped in one goal apiece. Kate McDonnell, meanwhile, had 13 saves in net for her third double-digit save game of the season.
Game No. 2 brought a familiar foe in the second-ranked Women of Troy. The Aztecs, who lost to USC last Friday by 17 goals, fared slightly better in the second matchup, but got behind early and were forced to play catch-up. USC was out in front, 5-1, after one period and enjoyed a 9-1 halftime lead. The final 16 minutes saw the defending national champions outscore the Aztecs, 8-3, to move on in the winner's bracket of the tournament.
Israels, for the second straight game, led the Aztecs in scoring with two goals. King and Casia Morrison rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece.
San Diego State will return to action on Sunday when it faces T-No. 9 UC Santa Barbara at 8:30 a.m. PT in Triton Pool on the campus of UC San Diego.