CARLSBAD EDGES GREATER PHILADELPHIA 6-5 TO REACH GIRLS' NATIONAL STATE CHALLENGE TITLE GAME

CORONADO, Calif. – Carlsbad built a two-goal lead in the first period and never relinquished the scoring advantage as the squad downed Greater Philadelphia 6-5 in the girls' 18-and-under bracket to reach the title game of the 2010 National State Challenge sponsored by American Water Polo.

Carlsbad will take on Navy AC, a 12-5 victor over Princeton in the other semifinal game, at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 25 for the tournament title and a $1,000 check for the championship team. Greater Philly will wrap-up its weekend at 2:00 p.m. in the third place game versus Princeton.

The key to the game was Carlsbad's early scoring attack as Caylin King (4:25) and Kaitlin Mackle (3:46) gave the team a 2-0 lead. Greater Philly sliced the deficit to 2-1 by the end of the period, but Carley Estrada (4:45) and Mackle (3:44) responded with back-to-back goals to begin the second period and ultimately carry a 4-2 lead into halftime.

Both teams found the cage in the third period as Kelsey Tarzia (5:13) netted a man-up goal for Greater Philly and Makena Magro (4:14) rattled the cage at even-strength for Carlsbad to keep the lead at two goals, 5-3.

Greater Philly again pulled to within a marker of tying the score when Kathryn Jacobson uncorked a shot into the twine at 4:35 of the fourth period, but Mackle completed a hat-trick with her third tally of the game at the 4:21 mark to make it 6-4.

The lead, Carlsbad's defense and the ticking clock were too much for Greater Philly to overcome as the squad pulled to within a goal at the 3:14 mark, but could do no more in the evening hours of the 6-5 contest.