Jan. 28, 2006
SAN DIEGO - The ninth-ranked San Diego State water polo team dropped a 6-5 decision to the Aztec Alumni Saturday afternoon at the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center. The annual game marked the second straight win for the alumni squad.
The alumni dented the scoreboard first after Sandy Onweller found the back of the net early in the first quarter. Senior Susan Stivers responded with a goal of her own with 3:38 left on the clock to knot the score at one apiece. Moments later, Amber Prestegard recorded her only goal of the game to give the Aztec alumni a 2-1 lead after one period.
The second quarter was an offensive struggle as both teams scored only once. Sophomore Becca Ur tied the score at 2-2 with her goal 1:36 into the second quarter. Casey Finnegan regained the lead for the alumni squad as they went into the half with a 3-2 lead.
The third period is where the Aztecs momentarily took control of the game, holding the alumni scoreless while netting three goals of its own. Stivers notched her second goal of the contest at the 5:23 mark, while freshman Erinn Greenwood and junior Stacy Werner added a goal apiece to give the Aztecs a 5-3 lead going into the final quarter.
Unfortunately for the 2006 Aztecs, the alumni shut down the current SDSU squad down scoring three unanswered goals en route to the victory. In the final stanza, the alumni received goals from Monica DeRosier, Finnegan and 2000 Olympian Gubba Sheehy to record the 6-5 win.
The Aztecs had one last chance to tie the score with five seconds left, but Werner's shot attempt was corralled by Ashley Zabel as time expired.
San Diego State begins its regular season Feb. 11 against No. 20 Santa Clara at the two-day Triton Invitational on the campus of UC San Diego. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m.