March 16, 2018
IRVINE, Calif. - No. 20 San Diego State and seventh-ranked UC Irvine played one their classic close games with the Anteaters coming out on top, 7-4, Friday evening at Anteater Aquatics Center. The loss dropped SDSU to 8-11 on the year with UCI moving to 7-10.
UC Irvine appeared ready to run away with the contest, scoring two goals in less than three minutes time to open the game. The Anteaters dented the scoreboard once more all while keeping the Aztecs' offensive unit quiet.
UCI added to its advantage 40 seconds into the second quarter to lead, 4-0, but Hannah Carrillo put an end to the hosts' game-opening scoring run with her 19th goal of the season with 5:59 left in the half. Carrillo then found Karli Canale just over a minute later to slice SDSU's deficit to a pair of goals. The Anteaters, however, scored twice to lead, 6-2, at halftime.
San Diego State started making moves in the third quarter, beginning with Maddy Parenteau' successful strike 41 seconds into the frame. That got the SDSU offense going and it turned into an Emily Bennett goal off a feed from Shelby Kraft with 4:41 left. The Aztecs continually put pressure on the UCI defense and were tough defensively, creating turnovers, drawing exclusions and getting big-time stops from Maura Cantoni. At the end of three periods, SDSU was within striking distance, trailing, 6-4.
The stellar defense continued into the fourth quarter and UC Irvine matched SDSU's effort on that end of the pool. The Anteaters received the break they needed when an exclusion was called on the visitors and Isabel Rack scored on the 6-on-5 chance. With 4:33 left in regulation, the Aztecs applied high heat on the UC Irvine defense, but could not find the necessary openings to cut into their deficit.
Bennett, Canale, Carrillo and Parenteau each scored one goal for the Aztecs. Cantoni made eight saves in net. For UCI, Rack led the Anteaters with two goals, including the game-winner, and it received one goal apiece from Danielle Ayala, Cara Borkovec, Megan Falcon, Tara Prentice and Natalie Seidemann.
NOTE I
The loss was SDSU's fifth straight to UCI by four or fewer goals with three coming by three goals or less.
NOTE II
SDSU held UC Irvine's top two goal scorers, Tara Prentice and Natalie Seidemann, to two goals. The duo came into the game with 40 goals combined between the two of them.
UP NEXT
San Diego State returns home to Aztec Aquaplex to play host to No. 17 Princeton on Monday. First sprint is scheduled for 3 p.m. PT. Admission is free.
No. 7 UC Irvine 7, No. 20 San Diego State 4
Anteater Aquatics Center; Irvine, Calif.
SDSU: 0-2-2-0--4
UCI: 3-3-0-1--7
SDSU goals: Emily Bennett 1, Karli Canale 1, Hannah Carrillo 1, Maddy Parenteau 1
UCI goals: Isabel Rack 2, Danielle Ayala 1, Cara Borkovec 1, Megan Falcon 1, Tara Prentice 1, Natalie Seidemann 1
SDSU saves: Maura Cantoni 8
UCI saves: Jenna Phreaner 12