HONOLULU – The 19th-ranked San Diego State water polo team split their first two games of the season at the Rainbow Invite Saturday. The Aztecs opened the season with an 11-6 victory over Sonoma State and then lost later that afternoon to Marist 7-6.
San Diego State 11, Sonoma State 6
In the Aztecs' first game of the season, they jumped out to a 4-0 lead on their way to an 11-6 victory over Sonoma State.
"We had a balanced attack with multiple goal scorers and many assists," head coach Carin Crawford said. "Our defense generated steals and counter goals, so it was a good first game with many of our young players getting the first minutes of their career as Aztecs. Overall, I was very pleased with the result."
Hannah Carrillo got the Aztecs on the board with 6:37 left in the first quarter and then Shelby Kraft quickly followed with another goal 36 seconds later. Freshman Sydney Hurst then scored her first collegiate goal with 3:55 left in the opening frame. Haley Haggerty then extended the lead to 4-0 with a goal with 2:38 remaining in the first quarter.
Sonoma State would score the next two goals. The first late in the first quarter, the second came early in the second. However, the Aztecs quickly responded to push their lead back to four. Carrillo netted her second goal of the game with 5:57 left and then Hurst followed with a goal three minutes later.
Sonoma State and SDSU traded the next two goals and the Aztecs entered halftime up 7-3.
The Aztecs put the game out of reach by outscoring Sonoma State 4-1 in the third quarter. Maddy Parenteau struck first and then Carrillo struck again for her third goal of the game. Sonoma State scored next but then the Aztecs struck again with goals from Emily Bennett and Isabelle Hastings (assisted by Parenteau).
Sonoma State would go on to score the final two goals of the game.
Goalkeeper Maura Cantoni notched five saves in 27 minutes. Mia Harris also collected a save and allowed a goal in five minutes of play. Emily Bennett had a team-high seven saves.
Marist 7, San Diego State 6
Marist struck first, but the Aztecs were quick to respond with an Emily Bennett goal with 3:54 left in the first quarter.
The teams traded goals again. After a Marist goal, Emily Bennett netted another goal to tie it up at 2-2.
Marist would score the next two goals, both coming from Lauren Smith to take a 4-2 lead.
The Aztecs would score once more before halftime when Jessica Leckich cut the deficit to one with 2:47 remaining.
Shelby Kraft tied the game up with a goal after being assisted by Emily Bennett with 6:32 remaining in the third.
After trading goals, Marist took the lead for good with 2:35 remaining in the third.
Marist would score once more 4:04 remaining, but SDSU responded with another Hannah Carrillo goal with 2:48 left. The Aztecs couldn't score in their last four power play opportunities and missed a penalty shot as well.
Goalkeeper Maura Cantoni had nine saves and Marist's Carsen Horvatich collected six.
THE NOTE
Under head coach Carin Crawford, San Diego State is a perfect 15-0 in season openers when the Aztecs are the higher ranked team.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs finish up the 2019 Rainbow Invite Sunday when they face the host school, T-No. 6 Hawai'i at 10:15 a.m. HT.
No. 19 San Diego State 11, Sonoma State 6
2019 Rainbow Invite – Game No. 1
SDSU: 4-3-4-0—11
Sonoma St.: 1-2-1-2—6
SDSU goals: Hannah Carrillo 3, Sydney Hurst 2, Haley Hagerty 1, Jessica Leckish 1, Emily Bennett 1, Shelby Kraft 1, Maddy Parenteau 1, Isabelle Hastings 1
Sonoma St. goals: JoJo Williams 3, Hailey Gellert 1, Amber Hellickson 1, Annika Kerickson 1,
SDSU saves: Maura Cantoni 5, Mia Harris 1
Sonoma St. saves: Brooke Sullivan 4
No. 19 San Diego State 6, Sonoma State 7
2019 Rainbow Invite – Game No. 2
SDSU: 2-1-2-1—6
Marist: 2-2-2-1—7
SDSU goals: Emily Bennett 2, Hannah Carrillo 1, Shelby Kraft 1, Haley Hagerty
Marist goals: Lauren Smith 2, Justin Castro 2, Grace Doerfler 1, Anais Mathes 1, Carolyn Gauvin 1
SDSU saves: Maura Cantoni 9
Marist saves: Carsen Horavitch, 6
Aztecs Split Doubleheader to Begin Season
