FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 17 Aztec water polo team fell to No. 12 Loyola Marymount 10-5 in the semifinals of the GCC Championships Saturday afternoon at the Fresno State Aquatic Center. The Aztecs held a 2-1 lead early in the second quarter and then saw the Lions score seven unanswered goals, including six in the third quarter. SDSU will play for third place in the GCC Sunday at 12:45 p.m.
Shelby Kraft led the Aztecs with two goals. Maddy Parenteau, Haley Hagerty and Sydney Hurst also found the back of the net. Senior Mary Myers led SDSU with two assists. Goalkeeper Maura Cantoni collected eight saves.
The Lions got on the board first, but then SDSU scored the next two goals. The first came from Haley Hagerty on a Mary Myers assist, followed by Shelby Kraft's first goal.
The Lions would score two more times in the second quarter to take a 3-2 lead into the halftime break. But then they scored six third quarter goals, including the first five, to put the game out of reach.
Sydney Hurst stopped the Lions' scoring run after finishing an Emily Bennett assist with 2:34 left in the third, but the damage had been done.
The teams alternated the final four goals of the game.
LMU was led by Mollie Williams and Hana Villanova who combined to score seven goals.
STAT OF THE GAME
SDSU was just 1-for-10 on power play opportunities.
THE NOTE I
This was just the third time this season that neither Emily Bennett or Hannah Carrillo scored a goal.
THE NOTE II
The six goals SDSU gave up to LMU in the third quarter tied the most they have allowed in a quarter this season (Hawai'i, Jan. 20, 2019)
THE NOTE III
The Lions have beaten the Aztecs in three of their last four meetings and now hold an 18-17 advantage in the all-time series.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs will face the loser of No. 1 Pacific and No. 4 Fresno State Sunday at 12:45 p.m. in the third-place game.
No. 17 (2) San Diego State 5, No. 12 (3) LMU 10
GCC Semifinals
SDSU – 1-2-1-2 – 5
LMU – 1-2-6-1 – 10
SDSU goals: Shelby Kraft 2, Sydney Hurst 1, Maddy Parenteau 1, Haley Hagerty 1
LMU goals: Mollie Williams 4, Hana Vilanova 3, Morgan Malloy 2, Katie Hungerford 1
SDSU saves: Maura Cantoni 8
LMU saves: Sky Flores 8
Aztecs Fall to LMU 10-5 in GCC Semis
