Feb. 24, 2017
IRVINE, Calif. - The 12th-ranked San Diego State water polo team dropped a tough 14-10 decision at No. 6 UC Irvine on Friday afternoon in the first game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational. The loss puts the Aztecs' record at 4-5 on the season.
SDSU dug itself a big hole in the first quarter, allowing the Anteaters to score five unanswered goals to start the contest. Ioli Benekou stopped the game-opening run with 1:11 left in the period, but the Aztecs bled another goal 17 seconds before the quarter horn to let UCI take a 6-1 lead.
San Diego State played even with the Anteaters in the second quarter, with each team scoring twice. UC Irvine struck first after 3:13 had passed only to have Katy Schneider respond 43 second later. Then with just under a minute to go before halftime, the Anteaters posted their eighth goal and Makena Magro found the back of the net with 31 seconds left to bring the Aztecs to within five goals.
The third quarter saw San Diego State make a bit of a run at the Anteaters, but it was not before the hosts scored twice to take a 10-4 lead. In the final three minutes, the Aztecs found a bit of a rhythm offensively. Hannah Carrillo scored with just under three minutes to play and was followed by Caroline Israels less than a minute later. Then with 74 seconds left, Magro netted her second of the game with Israels joining the party with her second goal 47 seconds later. With SDSU down, 10-7, the Anteaters added to their cushion with five seconds showing the clock.
Trailing, 11-7, entering the final period, Benekou sliced into SDSU's deficit with her second goal of the afternoon 94 seconds into the frame. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, UC Irvine scored three times in a matter of 4:04 to stretch its lead to 14-8. San Diego State later added single goals from Katrina King and Alyssa Diacono in the final minute to produce the final score.
The Aztecs now move the consolation bracket where they will meet No. 16 UC San Diego on Saturday morning. San Diego State defeated the Tritons in La Jolla two weeks ago, 5-4, at the UCSD Triton Invitational. First sprint at Corona del Mar High School is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. PT.
No. 6 UC Irvine 14, No. 12 San Diego State 10
Anteater Aquatics Center; Irvine, Calif.
SDSU 1-2-4-3—10
UCI 6-2-3-3—14
SDSU goals: Benekou 2, Israels 2, Magro 2, Carrillo, Diacono, King, Schneider
UCI goals: Thornton 4, Brooks 3, Pieradozzi 2, Toledo 2, Sweica, Borkovec, Mitchell
SDSU saves: McDonnell – unavailable
UCI saves: Shaw – unavailable