Feb. 4, 2012
LONG BEACH, Calif. - The eighth-ranked San Diego State water polo squad posted its fourth consecutive victory to open the season on Saturday as the Aztecs downed No. 15 Long Beach State on the road, 13-12. SDSU is now 4-0, while the 49ers fall to 0-1.
Both teams scored twice in the first quarter with LBSU taking 1-0 lead with 6:20 left in the frame after the Aztecs were charged with an ejection. SDSU, however, responded just moments later when Meaghan Poland rattled the back of the cage. The 49ers scored 30 seconds later to take the lead, but San Diego State drew an ejection and Poland converted on the 6-on-5 chance to knot the score at 2-2.
Less than a minute into the second quarter, Amber Pezzolla scored her first of the game to give SDSU its first lead. After a scoreless four minutes, Poland struck again to put the visitors ahead, 4-2. Long Beach State ended its drought when Melissa Matheson scored with 2:46 left before halftime. On the next Aztec possession, the 49ers were whistled for a penalty, which set up Pezzolla's second of the afternoon. Matheson scored again for LBSU on its next offensive sequence, but San Diego State ended the half on a positive note as Taelor Moreno put her shot past 49er goalkeeper Kelly Ringel with 41 seconds to play to give SDSU a 6-4 lead.
In the third quarter, Long Beach State was led by Coriann Snyder and Julia Garyfallou. Snyder scored the first of three goals in the quarter on LBSU's first possession, but SDSU's Anique Hermann answered right back to give the Aztecs a 7-5 lead. Garyfallou continued the goal-for-goal trend with her second of the day, but Poland responded 12 seconds later to keep the Scarlet and Black ahead, 8-6. The home side, however, scored three unanswered goals (Snyder, Garyfallou, Snyder) to close the third period and the game was tied, 9-9, heading into the final eight minutes of regulation.
The 49ers continued their excellent play early in the fourth quarter as Chelsea Parks scored twice in the opening two minutes to put LBSU up 11-9. San Diego State began its rally with a 6-on-5 goal from Poland to cut its deficit to 11-10 with 4:28 to go. Then just 23 seconds later, Hermann leveled the score at 11-11, but Matheson gave Long Beach State the lead the next time down the pool. The Aztecs, however, buckled down defensively in the final minutes and kept the 49ers off the scoreboard. In the meantime, San Diego State was running its offense effectively and it resulted in another Hermann goal with 1:58 left and ended with Leanne Ford providing the game-winner with 70 seconds to go in regulation.
When it was all said and done, Poland led all players with five goals, while Hermann scored three times. Pezzolla and Moreno, meanwhile, had two goals apiece and Ford finished with one. Kelly Campoli, who was starting her fourth game of the season, tallied 12 saves in goal.
San Diego State returns to action Thursday, Feb. 9, when it plays host to Hartwick at 3 p.m. PT at Aztec Aquaplex. Admission is free to the home opener and to all regular-season home water polo events.