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Aztecs win 9-8 to improve to 3-0 in GCC action
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
March 24, 2017 (Riverside) - No. 12 San Diego State trailed by as many as three goals in the first half and received a goal from Ioli Benekou with 1:38 left in the fourth quarter to complete the rally and give the Aztecs a 9-8 road win at 25th-ranked California Baptist. SDSU is now 12-9 overall, 3-0 in the Golden Coast Conference and 22-0 all-time in GCC action.
The Aztecs fell behind the Lancers (14-9; 0-1 GCC), 6-3, after back-to-back goals from Lizette Perez and Paizlee Dreyer, the last of which came with 5:48 left in the first half. Benekou, however, scored with under two minutes to go off a power-play feed from Caroline Israels to guide San Diego State into halftime trailing, 6-4.
SDSU opened the second half with a goal from Lizzy Bilz just 55 seconds in and later got the tying goal from Alyssa Diacono with 4:50 remaining in the frame. Perez moved the Lancers out in front once again with just over four minutes to go, but Bilz scored again, leveling the score at 7-7.
In the final period, California Baptist made things tense for the Aztecs following a Jessica Castellano goal with over six minutes to play. The score held still at 8-7 for nearly four minutes, but Israels tilted the momentum toward SDSU with a game-tying goal with 2:35 left. Then with under two minutes to play, the Aztecs earned an exclusion and Benekou converted the 6-on-5 opportunity to move the visitors out in front. From there, SDSU kept the Lancers off the scoreboard for the final 98 seconds to remain unbeaten in conference action.
Benekou, Bilz, Israels and Hannah Carrillo, who scored twice in the first quarter, led the Aztecs in scoring with two goals apiece. Diacono added the other goal to complete the scoring. Israels, meanwhile, added game-high totals in assists (2) and steals (5). Kate McDonnell made eight saves in net.
San Diego State completes its two-game road trip on Saturday when it faces No. 21 LMU in Los Angeles. First sprint is set for noon PT.
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