Feb. 9, 2012
SAN DIEGO - No. 9 San Diego State defeated 15th-ranked Hartwick, 16-6, Thursday afternoon at Aztec Aquaplex. SDSU scored four goals in each quarter to secure its sixth straight home-opening victory. With the win San Diego State improves to 5-0, while the Hawks fall to 2-2.
The Hawks put the Aztecs in an early 1-0 hole when Lisa Bass squeezed her shot past SDSU goalkeeper Kelly Campoli through the left side 1 minute, 55 seconds into the contest. San Diego State, however, answered with four goals, including two from Amber Pezzolla. The junior notched her first goal of the game when she scored from a half-yard out 23 seconds after Hartwick's goal. Later, Pezzolla drew a penalty out in front of the net, which led to Leanne Ford's successful penalty shot. Pezzolla continued to put her mark on the game with two minutes left in the quarter when she rebounded her own shot and found the back of the net from the left side. Then to round out the first eight minutes, Taelor Moreno scored off a field block to give SDSU a 4-1 lead.
San Diego State scored its fifth unanswered goal not even 30 seconds into the second quarter when Pezzolla was on the receiving end of an Alex Ford pass. The Hawks put an end to their scoring drought when Sami Capparelli scored on a wraparound attempt with 5:21 to go in the half. SDSU then received consecutive goals from Meaghan Poland, Carina Carballo and Tori Long to give the home side an 8-2 lead. Hartwick's Alison Kositch scored 26 seconds before the horn to cut into the San Diego State lead, 8-3.
The Aztecs continued to roll in the third quarter, scoring the first and last two goals of the frame. Anique Hermann drew an ejection and San Diego State took advantage of the 6-on-5 chance when Alana Burgess assisted on Leanne Ford's second goal of the game. Kelli Boling scored twice in less than a minute and both goals sandwiched a Hartwick goal by Capparelli. SDSU's final goal of the quarter came from Leanne Ford, which put the Aztecs comfortably ahead, 12-4.
Poland recorded her fifth multi-goal game of the season in the opening stages of the fourth quarter when she rattled the cage with 5:58 left in regulation. Pezzolla added her fourth of the afternoon on the next Aztec possession and the Hawks answered with a Jemma Dendy Young goal with just over four minutes to play. After three minutes of scoreless action, both teams scored on their next offensive sequence. Hartwick received a goal from Cayley Tonkin, while Taelor Moreno skipped her shot on a penalty attempt. Moreno later added her third of the game on a power play opportunity to round out the scoring.
San Diego State returns to action on Saturday when it starts competition at the Triton Invitational at nearby UC San Diego. The Aztecs will open tournament action against Sonoma State at 10:40 a.m. PT in Canyonview Pool.
No. 9 San Diego State 16, No. 15 Hartwick 6
Aztec Aquaplex | San Diego, Calif.
HART 1-2-1-2--6
SDSU 4-4-4-4--16
Hartwick goals: Sami Capparelli 2, Lisa Bass, Alison Kositch, Lara Dendy Young, Cayley Tonkin
SDSU goals: Amber Pezzolla 4, Taelor Moreno 3, Leanne Ford 3, Meaghan Poland 2, Kelli Boling 2, Carina Carballo, Tori Long
SDSU saves: Kelly Campoli 16