April 25, 2003
STANFORD, Calif. - The reward for the seventh-seeded San Diego State women's water polo team's opening-round victory at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship was somewhat bittersweet. On one hand, the Aztecs were guaranteed that they would stick around Stanford's Avery Aquatic Complex for three more games and Sunday's championship round; but on the other, the first of that trio of games came against a well-rested team that has had their number this season in No. 2 seed and second-ranked USC. The Women of Troy came off their first-round bye to defeat the seventh-ranked Aztecs for the fourth time this season, 11-5, and relegated SDSU to consolation-bracket play for the rest of the tournament.
SDSU (19-12) had its postseason hopes dashed and can play for no better than fifth place the rest of the way. The Aztecs will match up with sixth-seed No. 8 Hawai'i in Saturday's semifinal round, with the winner securing a berth in Sunday's fifth-place game.
The top four seeded teams (Stanford, USC, UCLA and Long Beach State), all of which received first-round byes, won their second-session games and advanced to the championship bracket on Saturday. Those teams are guaranteed to play for the top four placings in the tournament.
The Aztecs got the tournament off to a good start with a 9-3 win over 10th-seed No. 17 UC Irvine. SDSU's defensive effort was strong in matching a season best by yielding just three goals to the Anteaters, while the offense tacked six goals on the board before halftime. Senior utility Casey Finnegan (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West HS) and junior 2-meter Holly Hartzell (Vista, Calif./Fallbrook HS) each scored three goals as junior goalkeeper Ashley Zabel (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch HS) was strong in the cage with seven saves.
In the day's second session, the Aztecs kept it close for two quarters with the Women of Troy, trailing just 4-2 at halftime. But USC stepped up its offensive efficiency in the third quarter, scoring five goals in the period en route to the 11-5 win, while SDSU failed to convert three 6-on-5 opportunities and a penalty 4-meter shot. Seven different players scored for the Women of Troy, led by Sofia Konoukh's game-high three goals.
The Aztecs were led by two goals from sophomore Dominique Delgado (Lompoc, Calif./Cabrillo HS) and eight saves from Zabel.
SDSU gets another shot at eighth-ranked Hawai'i, which defeated the Aztecs three weeks ago in Honolulu, 4-3. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. A win would have the Aztecs playing for fifth place and their best finish in the last four seasons at the MPSF Championship.
2003 MPSF Championship Day 1 - April 25, 2003Avery Aquatic Complex, Stanford, Calif.
Aztecs Game 1: (7) SAN DIEGO STATE 9, (10) UC Irvine 3
1 2 3 4 TotalUCI 1 0 1 1 3SDSU 3 3 2 1 9
San Diego State Scoring: Casey Finnegan 3, Holly Hartzell 3, Dominique Delgado 2, Chelsy Smith 1UC Irvine Scoring: Melissa Fernandez 1, Megan O'Donnell 1, Lauren Volcan 1Goalie Saves: Ashley Zabel (SDSU) 7; Jennifer Moon (UCI) 36-on-5: San Diego State 2-4; UC Irvine 3-6Penalty Shots: San Diego State 2-2; UC Irvine 1-1
Aztecs Game 2: (2) USC 11, (7) SAN DIEGO STATE 5
1 2 3 4 TotalSDSU 1 1 1 2 5USC 2 2 5 2 11
San Diego State Scoring: Dominique Delgado 2, Sandy Onweller 1, Chelsy Smith 1, unknown 1USC Scoring: Sofia Konoukh 3, Lizz Simms 2, Lauren Wenger 2,Eszter Gyori 1, Julie Henn 1, Katay Kocsis 1, Moriah Van Norman 1Goalie Saves: Kelly Graff (USC) 10; Ashley Zabel (SDSU) 86-on-5: USC 3-5; SDSU 0-3Penalty Shots: SDSU 0-1