Jan. 21, 2012
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State water polo team defeated the Aztec Alumni, 10-9, Saturday afternoon at a rainy Aztec Aquaplex. The win is SDSU's fifth consecutive decision over the former Aztecs.
San Diego State led 2-1 after one quarter, but was forced to come back from a 1-0 deficit after Stacy Werner notched the Alumni's first goal. The current Aztecs knotted the score at 1-1 when Amber Pezzolla put her shot past Heather Fenske. Meaghan Poland's goal with 4:02 left in the frame gave SDSU a lead it would not relinquish.
In the second quarter, Anique Hermann gave San Diego State a two-goal cushion, but Werner struck again to make it a one-goal game. Pezzolla tallied her second of the game less than a minute later, but the Alumni would score to keep it close just moments later. Pezzolla continued her scoring ways with another goal to put SDSU ahead, 5-3, at halftime.
Former All-American Anna Gonzales opened the scoring in the third quarter as she pocketed her first goal to bring the Alumni to within one at 5-4. San Diego State, however, closed the stanza with a flurry as it scored three unanswered goals (Hermann, Kim Lewis, Hermann) in the final 5:29 to lead 8-4 heading into the final eight minutes.
The Alumni showed its poise and experience in the fourth and cut the SDSU lead to one with three straight goals. Amber Prestegard scored twice and her squad tacked on another goal to pull within 8-7. The Aztecs received consecutive goals from Alex Ford with less than five minutes to play to up its lead to 10-7 and withstood to a pair of goals in the final 1:46 to escape with the one-goal victory.
San Diego State officially opens the 2012 campaign next Saturday at the Terrapin Invitational at the University of Maryland. The Aztecs will face Marist at 3 p.m. ET, before taking on Wagner at 6:30 p.m. ET.