March 31, 2012
SAN JOSE - The No. 8 San Diego State water polo team suffered a tough 9-8 overtime loss to No. 10 San Jose State on Saturday afternoon at the Aquatics Center in San Jose. SDSU dropped to 17-8 and 1-5 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play, while the Spartans improved to 14-8 and 2-3 in the MPSF.
Meaghan Poland started things off as she gave the Aztecs an early 1-0 lead three minutes into the contest. San Jose State would score the next two goals, but Alex Ford knotted the score at 2-2 with 20 seconds left in the opening period.
SDSU continued its momentum in the second, taking a 3-2 lead when Leanne Ford scored just 30 seconds into the period. The Spartans then tied the game on a successful six-on-five opportunity with 5:57 remaining and that would be all the action for the first half of play.
Early on in the third period, Poland scored her second goal of the game to give the Aztecs the lead back. San Jose State, however, notched the next three to take a two-goal advantage. SDSU fought back late in the period as Amber Pezzolla and Tori Long tallied consecutive goals to tie the game at 6-6.
Both teams played solid defense in the fourth period, as the first goal wasn't scored until the 3:15 mark when San Jose State retook the lead. That advantage only lasted two minutes though, as Pezzolla tallied her second goal of the game with 1:12 remaining to knot the score at seven apiece and eventually force overtime.
In the first overtime period, SJSU's Anna Natalizio scored her fourth goal of the game to give the Spartans a one-goal lead. The Spartans would tally another 37 seconds later to take a two-goal advantage. With 1:28 remaining, SDSU cut the deficit in half when Anique Hermann scored. The Aztecs were unable to score again though, dropping the 9-8 decision.
San Diego State will now prepare for second-ranked Stanford tomorrow. The MPSF contest is scheduled for a 1 p.m. PT. start.
No. 10 San Jose State 9, No. 8 San Diego State 8
The Aquatics Center | San Jose, Calif.
SJSU: 2-1-3-1-2-0--9
SDSU: 2-1-3-1-1-0--8
SJSU goals: Anna Natalizio 4, Dani Curran 2, Rachel Henry, Kimber Methvin, Allie Stewart
SDSU goals: Amber Pezzolla 2, Meaghan Poland 2, Alex Ford, Leanne Ford, Tori Long, Anique Hermann
SJSU saves: Minson, 16
SDSU saves: Campoli, 9