Feb. 11, 2012
SAN DIEGO - Ninth-ranked San Diego State picked up a pair of wins on day one of the Triton Invitational to improve to 7-0 on the season. The Aztecs defeated Sonoma State, 18-2, before downing No. 19 Cal State Northridge, 12-9.
The Aztecs are 7-0 for the first time since 2008 when they started the campaign with 10 straight wins to open the season. That year, San Diego State finished with a 31-7 record and advanced to the NCAA Championship.
In the tournament opener vs. Sonoma State, the Aztecs scored four times in the first quarter. The four goals were a part of three-quarter onslaught that saw SDSU score six times in the second period and another six in the third quarter.
San Diego State entered the final period up 16-0, and Sonoma State ended its scoring drought 30 seconds into the quarter. At the final horn, SDSU and SSU both scored twice in the final eight minutes to provide the final 18-2 score.
Amber Pezzolla and Meaghan Poland each scored four goals apiece to lead all players. Anique Hermann and Tori Long, meanwhile, scored twice. Kim Lewis, Taelor Moreno, Leanne Ford, Carina Carballo, Juliana Matos and Emily Whalen each added a single goal.
In the evening game, the Aztecs faced No. 19 Cal State Northridge, which defeated No. 15 Hartwick, 10-8, earlier in the day.
SDSU led the Matadors after one quarter, 4-2, and despite being outscored in the second quarter, 3-2, the Aztecs carried a 6-5 lead into the halftime break.
San Diego State increased its lead in the third quarter as it scored another four goals while allowing three CSUN goals. Leading 10-8, the Aztecs scored twice in the final period and nearly shutout Cal State Northridge, allowing just a single tally to emerge with a 12-9 win.
Leanne Ford and Pezzolla shared game-high honors with three goals, and Hermann continued her impressive start to her Aztec career with two more goals. Moreno, Alex Ford, Poland and Long chipped in with a goal apiece.
With a 2-0 record in tournament action, SDSU will face sixth-ranked UC Irvine on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PT at Triton Pool. Depending on the outcome, San Diego State will wrap up its time at UC San Diego with a final game at either 4:30 p.m. PT (third-place) or 5:50 p.m. PT (championship).
No. 9 San Diego State 18, Sonoma State 2
SDSU 4-6-6-2--18
SSU 0-0-0-2--2
SDSU goals: Amber Pezzolla 4, Meaghan Poland 4, Anique Hermann 2, Tori Long 2, Kim Lewis, Taelor Moreno, Leanne Ford, Carina Carballo, Juliana Matos, Emily Whalen
SSU goals: Souza, O'Connell
No. 9 San Diego State 12, No. 19 Cal State Northridge 9
SDSU 4-2-4-2--12
CSUN 2-3-3-1--9
SDSU goals: Leanne Ford 3, Amber Pezzolla 3, Anique Hermann 2, Taelor Moreno, Alex Ford, Meaghan Poland, Tori Long
CSUN goals: Young 3, Jamison 2, Pettinger 2, Nelson, Janke