SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State water polo team got goals from eight players and shutout the Austin College Kangaroos in the second half of an 11-4 win on Sunday in SDSU's final game in the 2022 Aztec Invitational at the Aztec Aquaplex.
Each team scored twice in the first quarter, with Aztec Lucia Carballo getting things going with the opening goal at the 7:08 mark. The 'Roos' Brooke Le tied it at 1-1 and Jessica Leckich put SDSU back in front with a goal with 3:32 left in the period. The quarter ended with Le picking up her second strike of the game, with 2:23 to play in the opening stanza, and the teams went to the second tied 2-2.
Samantha Loughlin and Danni Croteau opened the second quarter with goals at the 5:37 and 3:46 marks, respectively, and it looked like SDSU might run away with things at that point, but Austin College responded with a pair of goal from Sophie Oliver to send the game to the intermission tied 2-2.
In the second half, the Aztec defense tightened up and the offense opened up.
SDSU (7-9) held the 'Roos scoreless for the entire second half and including time at the end of the second quarter kept Austin College off the scoreboard for the last 17:03.
While the defense was ratcheted up, so was the offense as San Diego State scored seven second half goals to pull away from the 'Roos. Sydney Hurst got things going coming out of the break with her first strike of the game, at the 7:21 mark. Karli Canale scored with 5:16 to go and was followed by a Rose Kanemy tally and Carballo's second of the game.
With the score 8-4 at the start of the final quarter, the Aztecs got goals from Hurst, at 4:43, Klara Goldstein, at 3:19, and Kanemy with 1:48 left to make the final score 11-4.
The Aztecs outshot Austin College 36-25 and defensively used two goalies. Gwen Gardner played 24 minutes and made three saves while allowing the four Kangaroo goals. Kelly Villaneuva played eight minutes, gave up no goals and had four saves.
Austin College: 2-2-0-0 - 4
San Diego State: 2-2-4-3 - 11
Austin College Goals: Le (2), Oliver (2)
San Diego State Goals: Carballo (2), Hurst (2), Kanemy (2), Canale (1), Croteau (1), Goldstein (1), Leckich (1), Loughlin (1),
Austin College Saves: Piachonkina (13)
San Diego State Saves: Villaneuva (4), Gardner (3)
Aztecs Cruise By ‘Roos In Aztec Invitational Finale
