March 4, 2016
GLENDORA, Calif. - No. 18 San Diego State scored five goals in the first quarter and never looked back as it defeated Azusa Pacific on the road, 10-4, to improve to 2-0 in Golden Coast Conference action. Alyssa Diacono scored four times for an SDSU team that improved to 6-8 on the season.
Diacono scored the game's first three goals and the Aztecs later got single tallies from Ioli Benekou and Caroline Israels to help the visitors jump out to a 5-0 lead. APU's Ashley Taylor helped the Cougars get one back after nearly two minutes had passed in the second quarter, but Benekou, Katy Schneider and Tayla Walsh scored in succession to put San Diego State out in front, 8-1, at halftime.
In the third period, Azusa Pacific (5-8) sliced into its deficit by outscoring the Aztecs, 3-1. Even with goals from Annalise Batcheller, Taylor and Britt Harris, San Diego State still led, 9-4, heading into the final quarter. Diacono provided the lone goal for SDSU in the frame and Elizabeth Bilz followed suit in the fourth as she scored the final goal of the contest.
Diacono led all players with four goals to record her fourth multi-goal performance of 2016. Benekou finished with a pair of goals (10th multi-goal game), and Bilz, Israels, Schneider and Walsh all scored once. Rachel Mitchell played three quarters and made eight stops in the cage. Kathleen McDonnell, meanwhile, replaced Mitchell prior to the fourth and was credited with three saves.
The Aztecs will return to action on Saturday afternoon when they visit T-No. 6 UC Irvine. The game is set for a 1 p.m. PT start at Anteater Aquatics Complex.
No. 18 San Diego State 10, Azusa Pacific 4
Citrus College; Glendora, Calif.
SDSU 5-3-1-1—10
APU 0-1-3-0—4
SDSU goals: Diacono 4, Benekou 2, Bilz, Israels, Schneider, Walsh
APU goals: Taylor 2, Batcheller, Harris
SDSU saves: Mitchell 8, McDonnell 3
APU saves: Margot 12