March 20, 2004
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State battled with the USA National Team on Saturday at the Kroc Community Center pool, but in the end Team USA was too strong earning a 9-4 victory. SDSU tied the score at 3-3 just into the second period, but Aztec turnovers led to a 5-0 USA run over the next two periods which sealed the victory in the exhibition match. The game kicked off the Collegiate Circuit for the USA National Team as they will play a variety of collegiate teams from around the country in preparation for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Sandy Onweller scored both Aztec goals in the first period as the Aztecs trailed 3-2 after the first seven minutes. Chelsy Smith tallied a goal at the 5:26 mark of the second quarter to tie the score at three, but that was as close as the Aztecs could get. Team USA added two goals in the last three minutes of the second quarter and three goals in the third period to take an 8-3 lead. In the fouth, SDSU freshman Stacy Werner redirected a pass from Onweller into the cage to pull to 8-4, before the National team posted the final tally with 1:05 remaining.
"I thought we played very well today," said SDSU coach Carin Crawford. "We competed and other than some turnovers we were right there. Team USA is a great squad and it was fun to get an opportunity to play against the best in the world."
Team USA is ranked No. 1 in the world after taking the 2003 gold medal at the Pan American games, and are also considered the favorite for this summer's Olympic games.
SDSU is 17-3 overall and 6-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and ranked No. 4 in the latest American Water Polo Coaches Association poll, its highest position in school history. The Aztecs get back to intercollegiate action next Saturday as they face Arizona State in a MPSF match at 11 a.m. before facing Cal in a non-conference game at 3 p.m. in Tempe, Ariz.
March 20, 2004 - Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center
USA National Team 9, SAN DIEGO STATE 4 1 2 3 4 TotalUSA 3 2 3 1 9San Diego St. 2 1 0 1 4
USA Goals: Gabrielle Domanic 2, Heather Petri 2, Brenda Villa 2, Robin Beauregard, Ellen Estes, Ericka LorenzSDSU Goals: Onweller 2, Smith, WernerSDSU Saves: Zabel 2, Daseler 5