TEMPE, Ariz. -- The fourth-ranked Sun Devil water polo team will hit the road this weekend to face No. 1 Southern California for yet another pivotal MPSF matchup Saturday at 12:30 PT at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles.
With their highest ranking of the 2017 season in hand, No. 4 ASU will head to California following a huge win on the road at then fourth-ranked California last weekend. Following the win, ASU moved into fourth place in the latest MPSF standings with a 2-1 record in league play. UCLA sits atop the conference with a 14-1 overall record on the season, that includes a 3-0 mark in conference play, but lead the Trojans by just one win in the standings.
WEEKEND SCOUTING REPORT:
USC enters the weekend tilt after extending their win streak to 51-games, a new NCAA record. The Trojans defeated Princeton (12-3), San Jose State (19-3) and Hartwick (21-5) last weekend, thanks in large part to Brigitta Games' 12 goals on the weekend. Games netted a career-high seven goals in the Trojan win over San Jose State.
Following the Trojan's perfect 3-0 weekend, USC swept the MPSF's weekly awards with Games earning Player of the Week honors, and Maud Megens earning Newcomer of the Week accolades. Megens scored 10 goals in three games over the weekend, including a career-high five goals tallied in a 12-3 win over No. 10 Princeton.
In the cage, junior Victória Chamorro has been a vital part of a defense that has allowed just 94 goals this season. Chamorro has played 36 quarters for the Trojans, and recorded a stellar 3.0 goals against average.
GREAT WALL OF MIA:
The Sun Devils have made a name for themselves on the defensive end. The Sun Devils have allowed just 129 goals this season through 22 games played. Redshirt junior Mia Rycraw has played a huge part in anchoring the Sun Devil defense. In her 15 quarters played, Rycraw has amassed 152 saves, resulting in an impressive 9.8 saves per game average.
GAME OF GOALS
Assisting the defensive effort for the Sun Devils in 2017, has been the teams ability to score goals in bunches. This season, the Sun Devils have netted at least ten goals in ten different games. So far this season, the Sun Devils have outscored opponents 228-129, netting goals at a 10.36 goals per game average. Through 22 games, five different Sun Devils have reached the 20 goal plateau, with Lena Mihailovic leading the way for ASU with 41 goals already this season.
MILESTONE MINDSET:
Mihailovic, with her team-leading 41 goals this season, is quickly approaching the 100 career-goal mark. The Belgrade, Serbia, native enters this weekend with 96 career goals. Sophomore Maud Koopman has also made a move in 2017, adding 37 goals to her impressive 39 goals from her freshman campaign to bring the sophomore's total career goals to 76.
UPSET STATE OF MIND:
The Sun Devils face a daunting task this weekend in trying to find a way to snap the longest winning streak in NCAA water polo history, but it isn't a position that ASU is a stranger to. In ASU water polo history, the Sun Devils have recorded 41 upset victories, including the team's win in last week's contest against No. 4 Cal. Of those 41 upsets, 16 of those have come against teams ranked in the top-5, with their last win coming against No, 5 Michigan last season. While the Sun Devils have never defeated a No. 1 ranked team, they have beat a No. 2 ranked team. That win came in 2008 against then second-ranked USC.
With their highest ranking of the 2017 season in hand, No. 4 ASU will head to California following a huge win on the road at then fourth-ranked California last weekend. Following the win, ASU moved into fourth place in the latest MPSF standings with a 2-1 record in league play. UCLA sits atop the conference with a 14-1 overall record on the season, that includes a 3-0 mark in conference play, but lead the Trojans by just one win in the standings.
WEEKEND SCOUTING REPORT:
USC enters the weekend tilt after extending their win streak to 51-games, a new NCAA record. The Trojans defeated Princeton (12-3), San Jose State (19-3) and Hartwick (21-5) last weekend, thanks in large part to Brigitta Games' 12 goals on the weekend. Games netted a career-high seven goals in the Trojan win over San Jose State.
Following the Trojan's perfect 3-0 weekend, USC swept the MPSF's weekly awards with Games earning Player of the Week honors, and Maud Megens earning Newcomer of the Week accolades. Megens scored 10 goals in three games over the weekend, including a career-high five goals tallied in a 12-3 win over No. 10 Princeton.
In the cage, junior Victória Chamorro has been a vital part of a defense that has allowed just 94 goals this season. Chamorro has played 36 quarters for the Trojans, and recorded a stellar 3.0 goals against average.
GREAT WALL OF MIA:
The Sun Devils have made a name for themselves on the defensive end. The Sun Devils have allowed just 129 goals this season through 22 games played. Redshirt junior Mia Rycraw has played a huge part in anchoring the Sun Devil defense. In her 15 quarters played, Rycraw has amassed 152 saves, resulting in an impressive 9.8 saves per game average.
GAME OF GOALS
Assisting the defensive effort for the Sun Devils in 2017, has been the teams ability to score goals in bunches. This season, the Sun Devils have netted at least ten goals in ten different games. So far this season, the Sun Devils have outscored opponents 228-129, netting goals at a 10.36 goals per game average. Through 22 games, five different Sun Devils have reached the 20 goal plateau, with Lena Mihailovic leading the way for ASU with 41 goals already this season.
MILESTONE MINDSET:
Mihailovic, with her team-leading 41 goals this season, is quickly approaching the 100 career-goal mark. The Belgrade, Serbia, native enters this weekend with 96 career goals. Sophomore Maud Koopman has also made a move in 2017, adding 37 goals to her impressive 39 goals from her freshman campaign to bring the sophomore's total career goals to 76.
UPSET STATE OF MIND:
The Sun Devils face a daunting task this weekend in trying to find a way to snap the longest winning streak in NCAA water polo history, but it isn't a position that ASU is a stranger to. In ASU water polo history, the Sun Devils have recorded 41 upset victories, including the team's win in last week's contest against No. 4 Cal. Of those 41 upsets, 16 of those have come against teams ranked in the top-5, with their last win coming against No, 5 Michigan last season. While the Sun Devils have never defeated a No. 1 ranked team, they have beat a No. 2 ranked team. That win came in 2008 against then second-ranked USC.