March 17, 2017
FRESNO, Calif. -
San Diego State-Fresno Pacific Final Box
No. 12 San Diego State scored the game's first six goals and never looked back in a 14-9 road victory over Fresno Pacific Friday night. The win moved the Aztecs to 2-0 in Golden Coast action (21-0 all-time) and 10-8 overall.
Hannah Carrillo got things going for SDSU and it was a prelude of what was to come. The sophomore scored the first goal of the game, which later led to goals, in succession, from Alyssa Diacono, Caroline Israels, Diacono, Paola Vizcarra and Israels. Carrillo also set up Diacono's second goal of the quarter. FPU stopped the run with one second left in the frame as Sam Witt found the back of the net.
Similar to Thursday's game vs. fifth-ranked UC Irvine, San Diego State was shut out in the second period. Unlike Thursday, however, the Aztecs only allowed two goals rather than the three to the Anteaters. Amber Penney notched both of the Sunbirds' goals to shrink SDSU's lead at halftime to 6-3.
The scoring picked up in the third quarter as eight combined goals were put on the board. San Diego State recorded three of the first four goals with a pair coming from Benekou and the other from Israels. With the Aztecs ahead, 9-4, the teams traded goals in the final five minutes and SDSU enjoyed an 11-6 lead after 24 minutes.
Carrillo, who went quiet with the exception of a third-quarter assist, put the game away in the fourth. The San Diego native scored on a power play off a feed from Mikayla Vessey. FPU responded with an Emily Knowles goal, but Carrillo posted her third goal of the game with 4:39 left. Israels added a penalty shot and the Sunbirds scored twice more to provide the final margin.
Kate McDonnell made six saves between the pipes. The junior now has 12 games with at least six saves.
San Diego State will now travel to Bakersfield to compete in the Roadrunner Invitational on Saturday. First up is a game vs. Cal State East Bay at 10 a.m. PT, followed by a showdown with No. 11 Princeton at 1:30 p.m. PT.