Feb. 1, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - Unlike the first game of the 2003 season, the Arizona State water polo team (1-1) did not come out on the winning end of the score when it met No. 16 Hartwick at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center Saturday afternoon, dropping an 8-2 decision to the Hawks. Tessa Wyborny (Fr., Walnut Creek, Calif.) and Katie Davis (Jr., Riverside, Calif.) each tallied for the Sun Devils, but in the end, the Hawks capitalized on their opportunities while ASU could not, striking the post and/or crossbar on eight separate shots.
ASU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after the first stanza on the strength of Wyborny's team-leading fourth goal of the season. The Sun Devils could not carry the momentum over to the second quarter as four of their shots were off the posts and another couple saved by the defense. HC tallied three times with Colleen Santos notching two and Sheri Johnson adding the third.
Following the intermission at halftime, Davis found the back of the net, barely, as her shot softly blooped over the goalie and trickled across the goal line to cut the Sun Devil deficit to one (3-2). Major fouls then plagued ASU as three exclusions in a row led to three Hawk goals to push them ahead 6-2. Santos marked again with Marcy Wright and Vanessa Malik also scoring. Kate Chambers also added an even-strength goal in the closing moments of the third.
Down 7-2, ASU tried to mount a comeback, but was turned away time and again, including on a penalty shot. Gili Kollan (So., Kiriat Bialik, Israel) was awarded a penalty shot and saw the ball bounce high off the top right corner of the goal. She retrieved her own rebound, but stopped by the goalie. For good measure, Johnson added the final goal of the game to bring the score to 8-2.
The Sun Devils will meet No. 19 Pacific and UC Santa Cruz at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively, Sunday.