SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Senior Amanda Legaspi had a hat trick and two other Aztecs scored twice in No. 25 San Diego State water polo's 12-7 victory at Santa Clara on Friday afternoon at Sullivan Aquatics Center on the Santa Clara University campus.
The win moves SDSU to 9-14 on the season, 2-1 in Golden Coast Conference action. The Broncos stand at 8-15, 0-5 in GCC play.
In addition to Legaspi's three goals, sophomore Klara Goldstein and freshman Claudia Valdes each scored twice. Seniors Danni Croteau, Samantha Loughlin and Katie Ratcliff as well as junior Kendall Houck and freshman Shannon Murphy contributed a goal each.
The Aztecs jumped out to a 5-1 lead after eight minutes. Loughlin and Valdes scored at the 7:31 and 6:45 marks to stake the Scarlet and Black to a 2-0 lead. Santa Clara responded with a goal to cut the lead in half, but the Aztecs then ripped off three straight strikes with Valdes, Murphy and Croteau slamming the back of the cage at 4:01, 2:22 and 0:35, respectively.
In the second, SDSU extended its lead to 6-1 on a Goldstein strike 1:08 into the period, but the Broncos responded and got the goal back with 5:23 to play in the period. Ratcliff scored to make it 7-2 with 4:35 to play and that was the score heading into the intermission.
It looked like SDSU would cruise to an easy win, but coming out of the break, Santa Clara held the Aztecs scoreless in the third while scoring five times to send the game to the final eight minutes tied 7-7.
The fourth quarter was all San Diego State.
They returned the favor that SCU had given them in the third, scoring five times while holding the Broncos off the scoreboard.
SDSU got a goal from Legaspi at the 7:28 mark, Houck with six minutes to play, then back-to-back strikes from Legaspi and Goldstein rounded out the period with San Diego State's 12 and final goal at 2:37.
In goal, freshman Tiaare Ahovelo played 32 minutes, made eight saves, and improved her record to 3-5.
San Diego State wraps up its three-game conference road stint at Pacific tomorrow, Saturday, April 1, in Stockton, Calif. The game is scheduled to start at noon PT and with live stats and streaming video available through the Aztecs schedule page at www.goaztecs.com.
San Diego State: 5-2-0-5 - 12
Santa Clara: 1-1-5-0 - 7
San Diego State Goals: Legaspi (3), Goldstein (2), Valdes (2), Croteau (1), Houck (1), Loughlin (1), Murphy (1), Ratcliff (1),
Santa Clara Goals: Rodman (3), Baglietto (1), Daniels (1), Fredrickson (1), Morrison (1)
San Diego State Saves: Ahovelo (8)
Santa Clara Saves: Senadheera (11)
No. 25 Water Polo Drops Santa Clara 12-7
