Los Angeles -- The fourth-ranked Arizona State water polo team finished fifth at the 2017 MPSF Championship with a 13-4 win over No. 20 Bakersfield Sunday afternoon at the Spieker Aquatics Center on the campus of UCLA. Sunday's win marked No. 20 on the season for the Sun Devils who have now reached the 20 win plateau five times in program history.
The Sun Devils wasted no time getting the offense going on Sunday as PJ Allin, Maud Koopman and Alkistis Benekou each netted a goal in the first three minutes of the game. The Roadrunners would answer back with a goal of their own at the 4:54 mark, but the Sun Devils would rattle off three more goals to close out the first quarter.
Working with a commanding, 6-2, lead the Sun Devils would go on to outscore Bakersfield 3-1 to take a 9-3 lead into the halftime break.
The Sun Devil defense buckled down in the third, shutting out the Roadrunners int he third, to send the game to the fourth quarter with ASU in control, 11-3.
In the final quarter, the Sun Devils would add two more to close out the 13-4 ASU victory. Benekou ended the game as the Sun Devils leading scorer with three goals, her 11th multi goal outing for the Sun Devils in 2017.
In Sunday's effort, junior Mia Rycraw recorded 11 saves, her fifth game in the last six appearances, and second straight game, to record double digit saves.
The fourth-ranked Sun Devils will await their fate in the NCAA Tournament with the field scheduled to be announced Monday afternoon at 5 p.m. Fans can watch the entire selection show on NCAA.com, and follow updates by following @ASUWaterpolo on Twitter.
The Sun Devils wasted no time getting the offense going on Sunday as PJ Allin, Maud Koopman and Alkistis Benekou each netted a goal in the first three minutes of the game. The Roadrunners would answer back with a goal of their own at the 4:54 mark, but the Sun Devils would rattle off three more goals to close out the first quarter.
Working with a commanding, 6-2, lead the Sun Devils would go on to outscore Bakersfield 3-1 to take a 9-3 lead into the halftime break.
The Sun Devil defense buckled down in the third, shutting out the Roadrunners int he third, to send the game to the fourth quarter with ASU in control, 11-3.
In the final quarter, the Sun Devils would add two more to close out the 13-4 ASU victory. Benekou ended the game as the Sun Devils leading scorer with three goals, her 11th multi goal outing for the Sun Devils in 2017.
In Sunday's effort, junior Mia Rycraw recorded 11 saves, her fifth game in the last six appearances, and second straight game, to record double digit saves.
The fourth-ranked Sun Devils will await their fate in the NCAA Tournament with the field scheduled to be announced Monday afternoon at 5 p.m. Fans can watch the entire selection show on NCAA.com, and follow updates by following @ASUWaterpolo on Twitter.