The San Diego State women’s water polo team traveled to Palo Alto this weekend, where it competed in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship.

On Friday, their first matchup was against No. 3 UCLA. Although SDSU stuck with the Bruins for the majority of the game, UCLA proved its ranking wasn’t a fluke and beat the Aztecs 9-5.

The next day, SDSU gained some of its momentum back against San Jose State. Junior utility Amber Pezzolla had an incredible game, scoring three goals and drawing five ejections. It was no competition for the remainder of the game as the Aztecs secured an 11-8 victory.

Sunday was when the competition began to heat up. The girls went up against fifth-ranked Arizona State. After a previous loss the month before, SDSU was eager to play ASU again.

The entire game was closely played. Whenever the Sun Devils scored a goal, the Aztecs always had an answer. Although ASU led SDSU 7-6 at halftime, the Aztecs showed they weren’t done yet, scoring four goals in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 10. The remaining quarter, however, was unfortunately “heartbreaking,” according to head coach Carin Crawford. The Sun Devils scored two goals in the last quarter, and although senior utility Meaghan Poland was able to contribute an additional goal, ASU snuck out with a one-point win, 12-11.

Pezzolla, according to Crawford, had an “amazing tournament,” leading the team with four goals. Poland and freshman driver Anique Hermann each had two goals, while senior driver Alana Burgess, senior two-meter defense Leanne Ford and junior utility Alex Ford contributed one goal a piece.

Although Crawford may have been slightly disappointed with the way the last game of the season turned out, she is satisfied overall.

“I really am happy with our overall play this season. Every team goes through ups and downs,” she said. “All you can hope for is feeling like you’re playing your best at the end of the season, and I feel good about that.”