Jan. 30, 2010

The No. 10 women's water polo team defeated three teams ranked in the top-20 Saturday in their first regular season action of the 2010 season at the UC Irvine/ CS Bakersfield Mini Tournament in Irvine, Calif.

After winning big in the previous two matches of the day, the Sun Devils finished the tournament with a 13-3 statement win over No. 9 UC Irvine. Sophomore attacker Annabelle Carter, who scored her first goal as a Sun Devil earlier in the morning, netted six goals to lead ASU. Sophomore goalie Dana Harvey recorded 14 saves and freshman defender Becca Clopp added her first career collegiate goal.

Carter collected eight goals in three games Saturday, including one in each match. Sophomore attacker Mariam Salloum scored seven, and junior attacker Lynlee Smith and junior center Nikki Unbehaun finished with five apiece.

ASU led 3-1 after the opening quarter of the first game of the event, then scored sixteen unanswered goals in the succeeding three quarters to put No. 17 CS Bakersfield away 19-1. Smith and Salloum both recorded a hat trick and dropped three assists, and senior center Kari Walsh added a game-high four goals. Harvey collected eight saves and contributed on the offensive end with a pair of assists.

The Sun Devils carried that momentum into the second game of the tournament, defeating No. 16 Long Beach State 13-1. ASU jumped out to a 7-0 at halftime and continued to keep the pressure on the 49ers with four goals in the third quarter. Salloum netted three goals, while freshmen center Shannon Haas and attacker Searra Silverberg each scored a pair. Harvey grabbed eight saves and freshman goalie Amanda Young collected five while splitting time in the net.

The Sun Devils face three MPSF Conference foes in their next competition February 6-7 at the annual Stanford Invitational. They kick off the weekend on Saturday against No. 4 Hawaii at 10:50 a.m. and conclude the day versus No. 5 Cal at 5:15 p.m. ASU will play No. 3 UCLA at 9:10 a.m. on Sunday.

Sun Devil goals (CS Bakersfield): Walsh 4, Smith 3, Salloum 3, Unbehaun 2, Sarah Harris 2, Candice Phillippe 2, Silverberg 1, Bonnie Miles 1, Carter 1

Sun Devil goals (Long Beach State): Salloum 3, Haas 2, Silverberg 2, Phillippe 1, Kelsey White 1, Smith 1, Unbehaun 1, Harris 1, Carter 1

Sun Devil goals (UC Irvine): Carter 6, Unbehaun 2, Smith 2, Clopp 1, Miles 1, Salloum 1