March 18, 2017
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - No. 12 San Diego State completed a four-game-in-three-day stretch on Saturday by splitting two games at the Roadrunner Invitational in Bakersfield. The Aztecs defeated Cal State East Bay, 15-4, before falling to No. 11 Princeton, 5-4. The two decisions put SDSU's record for the season at 11-9.
The Aztecs enjoyed a 3-2 lead after one quarter and made their move in the second after outscoring the Pioneers, 4-0, to take a 7-2 lead at halftime. The second half was more of the same for SDSU, limiting Cal State East Bay to just one goal in both the third and fourth quarters. On the flip side, the Aztecs' offense produced three goals in the third and five in the final eight minutes to cruise to victory.
Caroline Israels led all players with four goals, while Ioli Benekou added three of her own. Delaney Parks was the other Aztec with multiple goals, scoring twice. All told, nine Aztecs recorded at least one goal. Kate McDonnell and Maura Cantoni split time in net and each had two saves.
In the early afternoon, San Diego State returned to the pool to face an unbeaten Tigers team and the matchup between the No. 11 and No. 12 teams nationally did not disappoint.
The Aztecs held a 4-1 lead at halftime, but found themselves in a fight late after Princeton scored three times in the third period to level the score at 4-4.
Neither team could find the go-ahead goal in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Tigers changed the script as the game was approaching the final three minutes when Hayley Wan tickled the twine with 3:09 left to move Princeton out in front.
The teams battled furiously down the stretch and San Diego State found itself with the ball on the game's final possession. Benekou's shot with five seconds left, however, was stopped by Ashleigh Johnson, which led to the Tigers' 12th win in as many tries.
Maddy Parenteau, Hannah Carrillo, Israels and Benekou all scored once to round out the scoring for SDSU. McDonnell, meanwhile, made 10 saves in the cage.
San Diego State returns to action on Friday, March 24, when it faces Golden Coast foe California Baptist in Riverside. First sprint is slated for 4 p.m. PT.
No. 12 San Diego State 15, Cal State East Bay 4
Hillman Aquatic Center; Bakersfield, Calif.
SDSU 3-4-3-5--15
CSEB 2-0-1-1--4
SDSU goals: Caroline Israels 4, Ioli Benekou 3, Delaney Parks 2, Katrina King 1, Lizzy Bilz 1, Alyssa Diacono 1, Mikayla Vessey 1, Hannah Carillo 1, Maddy Parenteau 1,
CSEB goals: Nicole Williams 2, Auriel Bell 2
SDSU saves: Maura Cantoni 2, Kate McDonnell 2
CSEB saves: Nikki Vaughn 4, Makenna Nation 2
No. 11 Princeton 5, No. 12 San Diego State 4
Hillman Aquatic Center; Bakersfield, Calif.
PU 0-1-3-1--5
SDSU 1-3-0-0--4
PU goals: Hayley Wan 2, Amy Castellano 2, Sydney Cheong 1
SDSU goals: Maddy Parenteau 1, Caroline Israels 1, Ioli Benekou 1, Hannah Carrillo 1
PU saves: Ashleigh Johnson 9
SDSU saves: Kate McDonnell 10