In a doubleheader, No. 22 San Diego State water polo lost to No. 17 Long Beach State 7-6 and beat No. 24 Bucknell 12-eight on March nine on the Aztec Aquaplex. After the first recreation, head coach Carin Crawford said how the team was capable of improving defensively. “Our protection was better,” Crawford said. “We had lots more hustle and willingness to assist every other and crash back at the middle, so I was pleased normal. I felt that we had exact protecting stops.” The Aztecs recorded their 2d consecutive 12-thieve game. However, the home crew could not convert on the energy play opportunities. “A region for development would be our energy play,” Crawford stated. “We had been 2-10, and if we ought to get to four-10 in a close game, forty percent is pretty proper, and that might be a distinction maker in a game like this.” Defensively, junior driving force Maddy Parenteau had a sport-high four steals. “I thought Maddy (Parenteau) countered nicely,” Crawford stated. “She had stolen and in particular at the quit of game when we had been strolling our press-to-steal defense, she came up with key saves and shot the ball in the sort of manner that we were given greater possessions,” Parenteau said SDSU’s protection became something they targeted on extra of inside the past few contests.
“We focused on defense more than the beyond few video games,” Parenteau said. “I idea we did a honestly top job, but we didn’t put our pictures away.” Senior captain Hannah Carrillo has furnished each offensive and protecting consistency. “I try to ensure that I am making an impact in some manner,” Carrillo said. “If now not scoring, then I can do other such things as gambling better defense or getting assists for the team,” Crawford said how Carrillo shows her steering to the team, particularly as a senior. “Hannah is always that steady performer for us, and I thought today changed into no unique,” Crawford said. “She’s shown her consistency and management as captain and what it means to play like a senior.” In recreation two, SDSU and Bucknell scored early, totaling 14 dreams and a two-factor lead for the Scarlet and Black at halftime. Crawford stated how the win became greater defensive-minded throughout the suit. “I think it changed into miles wanted the win,” Crawford stated. “As the game went on, our protection progressed.” Defense regarded massive as senior goalkeeper Maura Cantoni saved nine dreams from scoring Bucknell’s way. Cantoni stated the beyond four video games helped the group focused collectively. “For us, we’re looking to play as the team, regardless of what,” Cantoni stated. “Sometimes the game isn’t going our way, but we must fight lower back; that’s something we’ve been suffering with, grinding out the more difficult video games, ensuring we answer returned each aim and preserve our intensity high.” Offensively, 4 of the 12 SDSU desires have been scored by way of freshman middle Sydney Hurst. “I am happy with everybody,” Hurst said. “We’re extremely unified, and we wanted that closing sport, (especially) coming off incredible tough losses to Long Beach and Azusa Pacific.” The Aztecs nonetheless consider gambling four ranked teams, highlighted via No. 1 Southern California, inside the Barbara Kalbus Invitational in Irvine, Calf. A couple of weeks in the past. Playing the ones four groups helped this crew have the capability to play returned-to-returned ranked groups. Hurst stated how this win could assist the team from shifting forward. “Good competition is certainly useful,” Hurst said. “Playing against gamers this is at or above our degree constantly u.S.A.Our game and continues us committed to our center values– being unified and severe.” Overall, the Aztecs went 2-2 at some stage in the Aztec Invitational. Up subsequent, the Aztecs stay domestic and keep their eight-game homestand with No. 8 UC Irvine on March 15 and conference opponent Concordia the next day. “It’s going to be a big week,” Crawford stated. “UCI is an extremely good group. They are speedy. It will assignment our swimming, our counter-attack protection and endurance on protection.”
