ANN ARBOR, Michigan -- Behind goals from six different players, the #24 Red Foxes knocked off the #15 San Diego State University Aztecs 8-6 on Sunday at the Michigan Invite tournament. The win, the first of the season for Marist, brings the team to 1-2 (0-0 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), while the loss drops San Diego State to 1-2 (0-0 Gold Coast Conference).
Sophomore Alexa Ovalle led the Red Foxes with two goals, one assist and four shots. Freshman Katie Tijerina chipped in two goals, three shots and one steal.
Senior Nikole Ferrari led the Aztecs with two goals, four shots and two steals.
San Diego State outshot Marist 30-27, converted on 2-of-7 power plays, had 11 turnovers and seven exclusions. The Red Foxes converted on 1-of-7 power plays, turned the ball over 13 times and had seven exclusions.
The first period was all Marist. Tijerina scored at the 5:13 mark assisted by Brooke Else, Ovalle scored with 3:27 remaining on the power play assisted by Amanda Amorosa and Amorosa scored unassisted with 27 seconds left in the period to put the Red Foxes up 3-0 after one.
The Aztecs responded shortly into the second period as Tayla Walsh and Alyssa Diacono narrowed the deficit to 3-2 with 6:41 remaining in the frame. Goals by Ovalle and Tijerina (assisted by Ovalle) gave Marist a three goal advantage before Hannah Carrillo scored for the Aztecs to bring the score to 5-3 in favor of the Red Foxes at halftime.
Both teams traded goals in the first minute of the third period as Ferrari brought San Diego State to within one when she scored just 45 seconds in. Freshman Grace Doerfler regained the two goal lead for Marist just 14 seconds later on her first career goal, before Brooke Else (first goal of the season) and Ellie Hoffman made it 8-4 heading into the final frame.
The Aztecs narrowed the deficit to 8-6 with 53 seconds left in the match off power play goals by Ferrari and Ioli Benekou, but the Red Foxe defense denied any more opportunities and the final buzzer sounded on the 8-6 win.
Up next for Marist is the final match of the Michigan Invite against #17 Hartwick College on Sunday at 3:50 PM.
