Feb. 7, 2015
SAN DIEGO - No. 13 San Diego State opened action at the UCSD Triton Invitational with a 6-5 victory over 18th-ranked UC Santa Barbara in Triton Pool Saturday morning. The Aztecs improve 2-0 with the decision, while the Gauchos fall to 4-5.
Things started well for SDSU as it took a 1-0 lead off a Caroline Israels goal less than two minutes into the game and the Aztec defense held the lead heading into the second quarter. Alyssa Diacono doubled San Diego State's cushion early in the frame and then both teams went cold from the field. For the Aztecs, however, they were able to tack on goals from Taylor Gums and Israels in the final 62 seconds to propel SDSU to a 4-0 lead at halftime. Israels' second of the game came with one second on the clock.
San Diego State's defense did not allow a goal until there was 3:39 left in the third quarter when Jade Wentz-Fitzgerald put her shot past Rachel Mitchell. The successful strike sparked the Gauchos as they went on to score two more times to cut SDSU's lead to 4-3.
UC Santa Barbara leveled the score in the opening moments of the fourth and final period thanks to a Tess Wardie goal. Israels answered 34 seconds later to record her first hat trick of the season and the Aztecs carried a 5-4 lead into the late stages of the game. With 91 seconds left in regulation, UCSB earned a 6-on-5 opportunity and took advantage as Camila Schafer knotted the score once again. Then with 38 seconds showing on the game clock, Anique Hermann rattled the cage to lift SDSU to victory.
The Aztecs return to action Saturday afternoon to face fifth-ranked Arizona State. First sprint at Triton Pool is set for 2:40 p.m. PT.
No. 13 San Diego State 6, No. 18 UC Santa Barbara 5
Triton Pool; San Diego, Calif.
UCSB 0-0-3-2--5
SDSU 1-3-0-2--6
UCSB goals: Schafer 2, Olofsson-Loo, Wardie, Wentz-Fitzgerald
SDSU goals: Israels 3, Diacono, Gums, Hermann
UCSB saves: unavailable
SDSU saves: unavailable