Feb. 5, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. - Saturday marked the start of the fourth year of varsity play for the No. 16 Arizona State University water polo team as the Sun Devils competed in the UC San Diego Arena Invitational at Canyonview Pool in La Jolla, Calif. Unfortunately, the Sun Devils (0-1, 0-0 MPSF) could not hang on for the victory as the No. 10 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (1-0) pulled out an 8-7 decision in overtime.
UCSB grabbed an early 1-0 lead midway through the first stanza, but the Sun Devils' Katy Lawlor (Fr., El Segundo, Calif./El Segundo HS) found the back of the net in her first collegiate game with 1:08 remaining. Tied at one, ASU took its first lead of the game as Tessa Wyborny (Jr., Walnut Creek, Calif./Monte Vista HS) scored on a power play opportunity just 35 seconds into the period.
With three minutes remaining before halftime, Kimberlee Stevens (Jr., Lodi, Calif./Lodi HS) tallied her first score of the year and pushed ASU out in front, 3-1. With 1:49 left in the second, UCSB tallied, sending the game into the intermission with the Sun Devils leading, 3-2.
The second half opened with the Gauchos scoring twice to reclaim the lead, but ASU countered the UCSB advantage as Wyborny notched her second score of the contest with nine seconds remaining in the third period. The Gauchos, however, took back the lead with a goal 28 seconds into the fourth before Katie Hedley (So., Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro HS) evened the score with her goal at 5:49. Hedley then tallied her second score of the quarter, this time at the 3:08 mark, to put the Sun Devils ahead, 6-5. But with 1:15 remaining, UCSB tied the game at six and sent the battle into overtime.
In the first of two extra stanzas, Hedley scored again to stake ASU to a 7-6 lead, but that lead would disappear one minute later. In the second overtime, the Gauchos were able to score with 1:17 left and prevent another Sun Devil score, ending the game, 8-7.
The UCSD Invitational continues Sunday with ASU battling for a finish of seventh, eighth or ninth. The Sun Devils will face No. 15 Hartwick at 8:05 a.m. before closing the event with a 12:25 p.m. showdown with No. 12 Michigan.