SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State water polo duo of Lucia Carballo and Paola Vizcarra helped Mexico earn a bronze medal at the Central American and Caribbean Sports Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. The tournament took place July 26-Aug. 2, and featured eight games in eight days.
Team Mexico went 3-2 in preliminary round action, opening with convincing victories over Colombia (18-10) and Trinidad & Tobago (22-5), before an 11-4 setback to Cuba. Mexico rebounded to edge Venezuela, 7-5, before dropping an exciting 14-12 match to Puerto Rico.
Carballo, who will be a sophomore in 2019, scored one goal in all five of the preliminary round games, while Vizcarra recorded two goals vs. Colombia, four vs. Trinidad & Tobago and a team-high five vs. Puerto Rico. Vizcarra took part in commencement ceremonies in May.
The pair was held scoreless in the 13-3 quarterfinal victory over Trinidad & Tobago and the 14-6 loss to Cuba in the semifinals. In the bronze medal game, however, Mexico emerged with a 12-11 win over Venezuela with Carballo scoring twice.
For the tournament, Vizcarra posted 11 goals on 31 shot attempts and Carballo was 7-for-19 from the field.
Last season for San Diego State, Vizcarra tallied seven goals, six assists, 19 steals and 21 drawn ejections while playing in all 31 games. Carballo, meanwhile, had two goals, four assists and 11 assists in 29 games. The two also performed in the classroom with both receiving all-academic recognition from the Golden Coast Conference. Carballo was additionally recognized by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches, earning academic Superior Team honors.