Jan. 27, 2018
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State rallied from an early deficit and went into the fourth quarter tied with the Aztec Alumni, but ultimately dropped a tough 8-7 decision Saturday morning at Aztec Aquaplex. Current student assistant coach Ioli Benekou scored the game-winner to help the Alumni to its first win since 2014.
The former SDSU standouts scored two unanswered goals in the first quarter only to have the Aztecs hang four goals, while keeping the Alumni off the scoreboard in the second period to take a 4-2 lead at halftime.
The Alumni stormed back, using its experience to score four times in the third quarter and holding the current group of Aztecs to just two goals, which put the score at 6-6 entering the final eight minutes. Benekou's winner was one of two fourth-quarter goals for the Alumni, while SDSU found the back of the net just once to provide the final margin.
Karli Canale and Isabelle Hastings each scored twice to lead the Aztecs. Emily Bennett added a team-best four steals and Mary Myers tallied an SDSU-high two assists.
As for the goalkeepers, Maura Cantoni had 13 stops with Emily Lowell contributing six. Newcomer Mia Harris, meanwhile, made one save.
San Diego State, which is ranked tied for 14th nationally, will open the season next Saturday when it competes at the Bruno Classic in Providence, R.I. The Aztecs will play a doubleheader on Saturday, facing No. 19 Harvard at 3 p.m. ET and No. 20 Wagner at 7:40 p.m. ET.