BOX SCORE • GCC CHAMPIONSHIPS • PHOTO GALLERY
STOCKTON, Calif. - In the second of two Golden Coast Conference semifinals at Pacific's Chris Kjeldsen Pool in Stockton, Calif., The No. 1 seeded San Diego State Aztecs (17-14) prevailed over the No. 5 seeded Cal Baptist Lancers (20-14), 11-6, thanks in part to a trio of three-goal performances from GCC co-Player of the Year Caroline Israels (SO/Pompano Beach, FL), Ioli Benekou (SO/Marousi, Greece) and Taylor Gums (JR/Lodi, CA) to go along with 12 saves from goalkeeper Rachel Mitchell (JR/Danville, CA).
After Ioli Benekou powered home a shot for a 1-0 lead, the Aztecs jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Israels dumped a lob shot past Cal Baptist keeper. The Aztecs extended the advantage to 3-0 with a Taylor Gums goal as the quarter came to a close with a three-goal SDSU lead.
Courtney Menard (JR/Calgary, Alberta Canada) got the Lancers on the scoreboard late in the second quarter to cut the San Diego State advantage to 3-1. With 41 seconds remaining in the first half, Valerie Spezzaferri (JR/Trabuco Canyon, CA) converted a 6-5 opportunity, beating Mitchell to the near post to cut the Aztec advantage to just 3-2, which would hold as the halftime score.
SDSU wasted no time extending the lead back to three goals as Israels added her second of the game in the first thirty seconds of the quarter and seconds latter lobbed one over Rowland to complete the hat-trick for a 5-2 score.
Spezzaferri answered on the next CBU possession, shooting one over the head of Mitchell, for her second goal of the contest, cutting the SDSU lead to just two at 5-3.
At 3:49, the Aztecs were awarded a five-meter penalty shot, but Rowland made a clutch save to keep the Lancers within two. Benekou added her second with 1:30 left in the third quarter, extending the lead back to three goals at 6-3. Alyssa Diacono (SO/Ladera Ranch, CA) scored a minute later to give SDSU their biggest lead of the contest at 7-3. Mitchell matched Rowland with a save on a five-meter penalty try to end the third quarter.
Benekou opened the fourth quarter scoring beating new CBU keeper Leticia Perez (SR/Commerce, CA) to seal a hat-trick for an 8-3 lead and Carina Carballo (SR/Mexico City, Mexico) scored to make it 9-3. CBU's Jessica Castellano (SO/Yorba Linda, CA) scored to cut the lead to 9-4 and Hannah Evans (JR/Menifee, CA) responded two quick goals to cut the lead to just 9-6. Taylor Gums extended the lead back to 11-6 with a pair of goals on back-to-back possessions in the waning seconds of the match.
The Aztecs now advance to Saturday's 2:30 pm championship game against Loyola Marymount while the Lancers will face off with host Pacific at 1:00 pm in the third-place game.