San Diego - The No. 15 Pacific women's water polo team fell to No. 12 San Diego State in the Tigers' Golden Coast Conference opener, 9-6. Anna Kertes scored twice for Pacific while Michele Relton made nine saves.

Taylor Adair, Gracie Smith, Karolina Hlavata, and Noelle Mann also added goals for Pacific. The Tigers fall to 6-8 on the season, while San Diego State improves to 8-8, 3-0 in GCC action.

Caroline Israels opened the scoring for SDSU, and Ioli Benekou pushed the lead to 2-0 before Kertes tallied before the end of the half. In the second, Alyssa Diacono stretched the lead to 3-1 before Hlavata answered. But 1:15 before the half, Taylor Gums restored a two-goal lead and Benekou finished a six-on-five opportunity with five seconds left in the half for a 5-2 SDSU lead at the break.

In the third, Anique Herman and Carina Carballo stretched the Aztec lead to four at 7-3 before Mann hit the back of the net to bring the Tigers within 7-4 with 3:22 to go. But Carabollo restored a four-goal margin.

Smith and Adair scored in the final minute of the third quarter as the Tigers closed within 8-6, but Aztec keeper Rachel Mitchell kept Pacific at bay, and Diancono added an insurance goal.

Mitchell finished with 10 saves for SDSU.

Pacific will remain in San Diego for the Aztec Invitational, squaring off with No. 10 Princeton at 7:45 a.m. and No. 16 Indiana at 4:30 p.m.