SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Laurene Padilla scored four times and Karli Canale posted three goals for San Diego State which held off a second-half rally to down Santa Clara women's water polo, 15-12, on Friday.
Elle Fredrickson registered four goals and Mia Battilega and Abby Fleming each scored three for the Broncos (0-3, 0-2) in the Golden Coast Conference matchup.
Santa Clara erased a pair of six goal deficits to pull within 12-11 on Fleming's strike with 4:49 remaining in the game but Haley Hagerty answered by scoring less than 1 minute later.
The Broncos were unable to cash in on an exclusion on the next possession and Rory Nuuhiwa and Canale added insurance markers 24 seconds apart in the final 3 minutes for San Diego State (2-10, 1-0).
Battilega goal midway through the first period gave the Broncos a 3-2 lead, but the Aztecs reeled off the next seven including a pair from Padilla.
After trailing 9-3 at halftime, Santa Clara chipped away, pulling within 11-8 late in the third on Battilega's final goal.
Back-to-back goals from Fleming and Fredrickson early in the fourth period cut the deficit to 12-10.
Raquel de Pinho, who was credited with 13 saves, earned the win in net for the Aztecs.
Liyara Senadheera took the loss for the Broncos in her first career start. She had five saves in the opening half. Alexa Grau played the final 16 minutes, turning away six SDSU shots including two from point blank range in the fourth quarter.
NOTES
• Abby Fleming, Mia Battilega, Malena Nguyen, Natalie Brauser, Elle Fredrickson, and Gabi Sicat started the game.
• Fredrickson drew a team-high four kickouts
• Santa Clara was 2-for-9 with the extra attacker and San Diego State 4 of 10.
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