Feb. 11, 2006
LA JOLLA, Calif. - The eighth-ranked San Diego State water polo team swept its two games to finish first in its pool on the first day of the UCSD Triton Invitational at Canyonview Aquatic Center on the campus of UC San Diego. The Aztecs defeated No. 20 Santa Clara, 5-4, in their first game and followed it with a 9-7 effort to down 13th-ranked Indiana.
In its opening match versus the Broncos, San Diego State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to sophomore Becca Ur's first goal of season. However, Santa Clara responded to tie the score at 1-1 as the first quarter drew to a close. The second period featured an Aztec defense that held the Broncos scoreless while receiving goals from Ur and senior Rachel Serna to take a 3-1 lead into halftime.
The SDSU lead quickly evaporated as the Broncos scored a pair of goals within the first two minutes of the third quarter to knot the score at 3-3. Two and a half minutes later, junior Elana Cervantes found the back of the net to retake the lead only to have SCU score again to tie the game at 4-4.
The final period was much like the second as the Aztecs completed the game with another strong defensive effort holding Santa Clara scoreless once again. The Broncos, however, defended well for most of the fourth quarter until freshman Ashling Taylor scored with 13 seconds left to give San Diego State its fifth consecutive season-opening victory.
Later in the afternoon against Indiana, the Aztecs found themselves in a 4-2 hole after one half despite receiving goals from Serna and senior Cassie Zebisch.
In the second half, the Aztecs came out firing and tied the score at 5-5 after three periods.
San Diego State used the momentum it created in the third period, carried it into the fourth, and outscored the Hoosiers, 4-2, to give the game its final score.
The Aztecs return to action Sunday at 11:30 a.m. as they take on the winners of Pool A in ninth-ranked Long Beach State. If the Aztecs defeat the 49ers, they will play for the championship at 4:10 p.m. If SDSU loses, it will play for third place at 3 p.m.
#8 San Diego State 5, #20 Santa Clara 4
SCU 1-0-3-0---4SDSU 1-2-1-1---5
Santa Clara goals: Emily Bonk, Andrea Evans, Claire Linney, Katie Radvanyi
San Diego State goals: Becca Ur 2, Elana Cervantes, Rachel Serna, Ashling Taylor
San Diego State goalie saves: Sarah Kilgore 3
#8 San Diego State 9, #13 Indiana 7
IU 2-2-1-2---7SDSU 1-1-3-4---9
Indiana goals: Brooke Zimmerman 3, Brittany Estrada, Janis Pardy, Clare Meadows, Kristin Zernicke
San Diego State goals: Rachel Serna 3, Elana Cervantes 2, Erinn Greenwood, Savanah Kelley, Ashley McCullum, Jenna Schuster
San Diego State goalie saves: Sarah Kilgore 6