Jan. 23, 2010
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - After defeating UC San Diego earlier in the day in the team's season opener, No. 7 San Diego State returned to the pool and beat five-time defending national champion and third-ranked UCLA in overtime, 7-6, at the Michigan Kick-Off. The victory was SDSU's first since 1995 and just their fourth in school history.
The Aztecs used a balanced attack to rally and defeat the Bruins. After one period, San Diego State enjoyed a 1-0 lead, but gave up five goals in the second quarter and was faced with a 5-2 deficit heading into the third stanza.
After halftime, the Aztecs outscored the third-ranked Bruins, 2-1, in the third quarter, but still found themselves down 6-4 entering the fourth period. In the last segment before the end of regulation, San Diego State found the back of the net on two different occasions, while shutting out UCLA in the process to tie the game and force overtime.
In the first of two overtime periods, Melissa de Jonckheere scored her first goal of the season on a power play and the defense did its part in blanking the Bruins. Then after both teams switched sides, the second overtime period remained scoreless as the Aztecs went on to record their second win of the season in as many tries.
Besides de Jonckheere, Sarah Brady, Ashley Novack, Leanne Ford, Amber Pezzolla, Ronni Gautschi and Hilary Whelan all scored one goal apiece.
Goalkeeper Kelly Campoli anchored a stellar defensive effort for the Aztecs for the second straight game. The six goals allowed by the San Diego State defense was six fewer than the Bruins scored in their opener vs. Indiana earlier in the day.
The win over the Bruins is just the fourth in school history and the first in head coach Carin Crawford's 12 years on Montezuma Mesa.
San Diego State returns to Canham Natatorium on Sunday to wrap up tournament action. The Aztecs will take on Colorado State at 8 a.m. ET and then play the hosts, 10th-ranked Michigan at 1 p.m. ET.
Michigan Kick-Off
Canham Natatorium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
#3 UCLA 0-5-1-0--0-0---6 #7 San Diego State 1-1-2-2--1-0---7UCLA goals: Grace Reynolds - 2, Emily Greenwood, Kelly Easterday, Heather Van Hiel, Leah Trella
SDSU goals: Sarah Brady, Ashley Novack, Melissa de Jonckheere, Leanne Ford, Amber Pezzolla, Ronni Gautschi, Hilary Whelan
UCLA saves: Caitlin Dement - unavailable
SDSU saves: Kelly Campoli - unavailable