TEMPE, Ariz. – The seventh-ranked Arizona State Sun Devil water polo team split the first day of play at the ASU Invitational Saturday, falling to No. 2 Stanford, 9-3, before defeating Marist College, 15-6, at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
"In the last few days, they've really taken big steps forward and I think we saw that against Stanford," head coach Todd Clapper said. "I think Marist is another big step for us in the way we're playing. We're on the right road now and we just have to keep going down that road and not go back."
Game One: Stanford 9, ASU 3
Arizona State faced second-ranked Stanford in the first contest of the doubleheader. The Cardinal came out hot on offense, scoring four goals in the first quarter of play.
Goalkeeper Mia Rycraw blanked Stanford in the next frame, saving five shots in the second period.
Stanford padded their lead with three more goals in the third quarter. The Sun Devils answered back with a score of their own after PJ Allin fired one into the net to get ASU on the board.
Bente Rogge and Catherine Simko both scored in the fourth frame, but the Sun Devils weren't able to catch up to the Cardinal.
Game Two: ASU 15, Marist 6
The Sun Devils packed a punch in the opening quarter and never looked back after scoring four unanswered goals.
Claudia Abad powered the offense, netting a team-high five goals. Maud Koopman added three while Lena Mihailovic scored two.
Rosie Huck lead the charge, striking the net in the first minute of the contest. PJ Allin, Maud Koopman and Rogge followed, powering ASU 4-0 over Marist.
ASU extended the lead in the second period with back-to-back scores from Claudia Abad and another goal from Koopman.
Marist answered back with a goal to make it 7-1 at the end of the half.
Taylor Barrett entered for Rycraw in the third quarter. Rycraw allowed just one goal and put up four saves.
Lena Mihailovic opened scoring for ASU in the third quarter, finding the net within the first minute of the frame. Abad ignited in the third quarter and added two more goals to propel the Sun Devils forward.
Marist responded with three goals but the Devils kept a foot on the gas to put up four goals and come out on top 15-6.
The Sun Devils return to the pool tomorrow for the ASU Invite and will face off against Laverne at 10:30 am at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
"In the last few days, they've really taken big steps forward and I think we saw that against Stanford," head coach Todd Clapper said. "I think Marist is another big step for us in the way we're playing. We're on the right road now and we just have to keep going down that road and not go back."
Game One: Stanford 9, ASU 3
Arizona State faced second-ranked Stanford in the first contest of the doubleheader. The Cardinal came out hot on offense, scoring four goals in the first quarter of play.
Goalkeeper Mia Rycraw blanked Stanford in the next frame, saving five shots in the second period.
Stanford padded their lead with three more goals in the third quarter. The Sun Devils answered back with a score of their own after PJ Allin fired one into the net to get ASU on the board.
Bente Rogge and Catherine Simko both scored in the fourth frame, but the Sun Devils weren't able to catch up to the Cardinal.
Game Two: ASU 15, Marist 6
The Sun Devils packed a punch in the opening quarter and never looked back after scoring four unanswered goals.
Claudia Abad powered the offense, netting a team-high five goals. Maud Koopman added three while Lena Mihailovic scored two.
Rosie Huck lead the charge, striking the net in the first minute of the contest. PJ Allin, Maud Koopman and Rogge followed, powering ASU 4-0 over Marist.
ASU extended the lead in the second period with back-to-back scores from Claudia Abad and another goal from Koopman.
Marist answered back with a goal to make it 7-1 at the end of the half.
Taylor Barrett entered for Rycraw in the third quarter. Rycraw allowed just one goal and put up four saves.
Lena Mihailovic opened scoring for ASU in the third quarter, finding the net within the first minute of the frame. Abad ignited in the third quarter and added two more goals to propel the Sun Devils forward.
Marist responded with three goals but the Devils kept a foot on the gas to put up four goals and come out on top 15-6.
The Sun Devils return to the pool tomorrow for the ASU Invite and will face off against Laverne at 10:30 am at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.