June 1, 2007
LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. - Following its most successful season in program history, the San Diego State water polo team continued to rack up postseason accolades on Friday as three Aztec student-athletes captured All-America honors from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC). Senior Stacy Werner (Lodi, Calif.) and sophomore Anna Gonzales (Fresno, Calif.) were second- and third-team selections, respectively, while sophomore Jenna Schuster (Upland, Calif.) received honorable mention recognition. The awards are the first for all three players and marks the first time in head coach Carin Crawford's nine-year tenure that SDSU has had three All-America honorees.
A four-year letterwinner, Werner set career highs in three statistical categories during the 2007 campaign as she led the squad with 95 steals, while her 48 assists and 66 goals ranked second and third, respectively. Werner tallied at least one goal in 36 of 39 matches, including a 21-game scoring streak to end the season. Her 1.69 goals-per-game average ranked 30th in the nation and 24th in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. In addition to receiving All-America honors, Werner also garnered second-team all-MPSF recognition in 2007. She concluded her collegiate career ranking among San Diego State's all-time leaders with 249 steals (2nd), 113 assists (4th) and 148 goals (6th).
Gonzales enjoyed a banner season as well, finishing second on the team with 80 goals and 55 steals. She also led the Aztecs with 26 multiple-goal games, while her 2.05 goals-per-game average ranked 17th in the nation and eighth in the MPSF. In addition to recording SDSU's fourth-highest single-season scoring output in 2007, the two-time letterwinner has already climbed into the school's all-time list with 64 assists (7th) and 104 goals (11th). Gonzales showcased her talents at the NCAA Championships where she notched six goals, four steals, two assists and three drawn ejections en route to earning second-team all-tournament honors.
Schuster, meanwhile, erupted for a team-high 84 goals in 2007 and led all Aztec starters with a .467 shooting percentage. Her goal production was the third-best single-season total in school history, while her 2.21 goals-per-game average ranked 11th in the nation and fifth in the MPSF. Schuster fashioned a 28-game scoring streak during the season, including a career-high seven tallies against Hawai'i in the MPSF quarterfinals on April 27. She also excelled on the national stage, notching four goals in SDSU's 11-10 victory over Loyola Marymount in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on May 11. Schuster, an honorable mention all-MPSF performer, was a defensive force as well in 2007, contributing 50 steals, while her 15 turnovers were the lowest among Aztec regulars.
San Diego State concluded its most successful season in the program's 13-year history with a 29-10 overall record and a fourth-place finish in its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.