March 18, 2012
SAN DIEGO - The No. 8 San Diego State water polo team defeated No. 12 Cal State Northridge, 10-6, in their third game of the Aztec Invitational presented by Courtyard Marriott on a gusty Sunday. With the win, the Aztecs improve to a perfect 3-0 for the tournament and 14-6 on the season. Cal State Northridge, meanwhile, falls to 0-3 for the tournament and 10-14 this year.
SDSU got off to an impressive start leading 3-1 in the first period of play. Leanne Ford hit a perfect corner from the perimeter to give the Aztecs the first goal of the game. At the 3:33 mark, Amber Pezzolla made an impressive move earning inside water resulting in a bar down backhand for the score. Pezzolla would score her second goal of the game with a skip shot giving SDSU a two-goal lead.
Alana Burgess set the pace for the Aztecs in the second period of play with a crisp pass across the pool to Samantha Voigt when she would draw the second penalty shot of the game. Pezzolla then scored her third goal of the game when she converted the penalty shot. Alana Burgess took advantage of a two-on-one counter attack, skipping one home to give the Aztecs a four-goal lead. Anique Hermann continued to display SDSU's speed down the pool when she would score on a counter attack goal. Aztec goalkeeper Kelly Campoli was a strong presence in the cage blocking a Cal State Northridge penalty shot with 25 seconds left to play in the first half.
Alex Ford would score the first goal of the second half off of an inside move giving SDSU a six-goal advantage. The Madators then answered back with a goal from the inside. Poland scored her first goal of the game with a bar down shot from two meters. The Matadors scored back-to-back goals from Lindsey Nelson bringing them within four. Freshman Taelor Moreno would close out the period with a skip-shot goal making the score 9-4 in favor of the Aztecs.
The fourth period of play started out with an impressive goal from Hermann giving her two goals on the game. Cal State Northridge would then score the last two goals of the game, but it wouldn't be enough as SDSU defeated the Matadors by the score of 10-6. The Aztecs play their final game of the Aztec Invitational this afternoon against Princeton. First sprint is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Aztec Aquaplex.
No. 8 San Diego State 10 , Cal State Northridge 6
Aztec Aquaplex | San Diego, Calif.
SDSU 3-3-3-1--10
CSUN 1-0-3-2--6
SDSU goals: Pezzolla 3, Hermann 2, Poland, Moreno, L. Ford, A. Ford, Burgess
CSUN goals: Nelson 2, Henehan 2, Jamison, Photopulos
SDSU saves: Campoli, 10
CSUN saves: Harvey 4, Davis 5