March 7, 2015
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - No. 12 San Diego State improved to 2-0 in Golden Coast Conference action with its 11-9 victory at California Baptist Saturday afternoon. The Aztecs upped their record to 7-8 overall, while the Lancers, who had won four straight, watched their record fall to 7-8 (0-1 GCC).
The teams traded goals over the first two-and-a-half minutes. CBU struck first, only to have Anique Hermann answer 39 seconds later. The Lancers scored shortly thereafter, but Alyssa Diacono responded on SDSU's next possession. The rapid-fire scoring stopped after that and the Aztecs got the final word of the quarter with a Taylor Gums strike.
Nikole Ferrari, Diacono and Caroline Israels found the back of net in succession over the first 2 minutes, 37 seconds of the second quarter. San Diego State carried a 6-2 lead into the late stages of the half, but California Baptist put an end to the Aztecs' 5-0 scoring run with a minute-and-a-half left when Hannah Evans notched her second of the game.
Israels gave SDSU a 7-3 lead on its opening possession of the third quarter only to have Valerie Spezzaferri score for a second time to bring the Lancers to within three of the visitors. Gums doubled San Diego State's advantage with her second goal of the game, but that's when California Baptist put some heat on the GCC-leading Aztecs. CBU went on to score three straight goals to end the period and San Diego State entered the final eight minutes ahead, 8-7.
Ioli Benekou gave SDSU some breathing room with a penalty-shot strike 15 seconds into the period, but Mallory Montano brought the Lancers back to within one. The Aztecs, however, received back-to-back goals from Diacono and Gums to pad their lead and later locked down on the Lancers the rest of the way, only allowing a single goal in the final 5 minutes, 30 seconds.
Diacono, who scored on all three shot attempts, and Gums led San Diego State with three goals apiece. Israels added two, while Ferrari, Benekou and Hermann pocketed one goal each. Overall, SDSU had seven assists on its 11 goals. Defensively, Rachel Mitchell made seven saves.
The Aztecs are back in action on Friday, March 13, when they play host to conference foe Pacific at Aztec Aquaplex. First sprint is set for 3 p.m. PT and admission is free.
No. 12 San Diego State 11, California Baptist 9
CBU Lancer Aquatics Center; Riverside, Calif.
SDSU 3-3-2-3--11
CBU 2-1-4-2--9
SDSU goals: Diacono 3 Gums 3, Israels 2, Benekou, Ferrari, Hermann
CBU goals: Evans 3, Spezzaferri 2, Dreyer 2, Montano, Paul
SDSU saves: Mitchell 7
CBU saves: Rowland 15