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Padilla's four goals lead SDSU in GCC opener
Source: goazteccs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
March 12, 2021 (Santa Clara) - The 14th-ranked San Diego State water polo team opened its Golden Coast Conference play with a 15-12 win over No. 23 Santa Clara Friday at Sullivan Aquatic Center. It was the second straight win for the Aztecs (2-10, 1-0 GCC), who began their 2021 campaign with 11 consecutive games against top-10 teams.
Laurena Padilla led SDSU with four goals and two assists, while Karli Canale chipped in with three goals and an assist on a game-high 11 shots. Haley Hagarty added two goals and six others - Emily Bennett, Delaney Binette, Faith Cerussi, Samantha Loughlin, Rory Nuuhiwa and Valhalla alum Spencer Samuel - contributed one goal apiece.
The shots for the match were almost identical with the Broncos (0-3, 0-2 GCC) holding a slight 37-36 advantage, but San Diego State was more efficient scoring at a 41.7 percent clip while SCU was held to just a 32.4 percent success rate. The Aztecs also held a decisive edge in power-play opportunities, scoring in 4 of 10 chances (.400) and holding Santa Clara to a 22.2 percent rate (2-for-9).
Trailing 3-2 after a Bronco goal by Mia Battilega midway through the first period, SDSU scored the next seven goals to open a 9-3 advantage with 1 minute, 46 seconds left in the first half. Padilla scored two of her four goals during the stretch, while other tallies came from Bennett, Binette Cerussi, Hagarty and Samuel.
Frederickson stopped the bleeding for SCU with a goal with 37 seconds left in the first half, making it a 9-4 lead for San Diego State at the halfway point.
Down by a 12-8 score after three periods, Santa Clara made a run with three straight goals over a stretch of 2:46 to start the final period, cutting the Aztec advantage to 12-11.
SDSU, however, responded with goals by Hagerty, Nuuhiwa and Canale before Abby Fleming scored for the Broncos with 1:18 left in the game for the final goal.
Raquel de Pinho had eight saves for San Diego State, while Grace Halliday recorded one stop.
THE NOTE
The Aztecs now lead the all-time series with SCU 12-1 including a 5-0 mark at Santa Clara.
STAT OF THE DAY
Laurena Padilla’s four goals gives her 36 for the season in just 12 games after tallying 34 a year ago in 18 games.
UP NEXT
No. 14 SDSU continues its play in the GCC with a game at No. 17 Pacific at noon PT Saturday in Stockton, Calif.
San Diego State 5-4-3-3 - 15
Santa Clara 3-1-4-4 - 12
San Diego State Goals: Padilla (4), Canale (3), Hagerty (2), Bennett (1), Binette (1), Cerussi (1), Loughlin (1), Nuuhiwa (1), Samuel (1)
Santa Clara Goals: Frederickson (4), Battilega (3), Fleming (3), Clough (1), Nguyen (1)
San Diego State Saves: de Pinho (13), Halliday (1)
Santa Clara Saves: Grau (8), Senadheera (5)
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