April 23, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. - The final weekend of the regular season did not get off on the right foot for the No. 17 Arizona State University water polo team Saturday morning as the Sun Devils traveled to No. 19 Cal State Northridge and dropped a tough 7-6 decision in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action at Matador Pool in Northridge, Calif. The Sun Devils slipped to 9-17 overall on the season with a 3-8 mark in the conference while the host Matadors improved to 16-15 overall and 3-9 on the MPSF slate.
CSUN jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as Chari Christopher and Allison Brookes each scored for the hosts within the first two minutes of play. But, with 1:04 showing on the first quarter clock, Tessa Wyborny (Jr., Walnut Creek, Calif.) found the back of the net to bring the Sun Devils to within one score at the end of the first. ASU then tallied a pair of goals in the second stanza as both Katie Hedley (So., Lake Forest, Calif.) and Kimberlee Stevens (Jr., Lodi, Calif.) each found the back of the net to put the visitors on top, 3-2, at the intermission.
In the second half, the Matadors recorded four goals in a row as Lynzy Klein scored the first and fourth goals of the quarter while Erica Bonetti and Michelle Keeley added the middle tallies. Trailing 6-3, Hedley responded to the CSUN run and added her second goal of the contest with 1:02 remaining in the third.
The fourth quarter started much as the second as the Sun Devils added two more goals to tie the game at six. Hedley scored 50 seconds into the period to complete her fifth hat trick of the season before Katy Lawlor (Fr., El Segundo, Calif.) added a score with 4:34 remaining the game. The Matadors, however, were able to score one final goal as Christopher tallied at the 2:46 mark to give the hosts the 7-6 decision.
ASU was led on defense by goalie Caylinn Wallace (Fr., Laguna Hills, Calif.) who turned in another double-digit save total as she halted 11 shots on the day.
The Sun Devils close out the regular season Sunday as they face No. 13 San Diego State in a noon MPSF game. From there, ASU will await word from the MPSF office as to who its opponent will be in the opening round of the conference tournament set for April 28-May 1 in Berkeley, Calif. Game #26 [Away #6] Record: 9-17 Overall (3-8 MPSF) at Northridge, Calif. DATE OPPONENT 1 2 3 4 F ---- -------------------- -- -- -- -- -- 4-23 #17 Arizona State 1 2 1 2 6 #18 CS Northridge 2 0 4 1 7
ASU Saves: Wallace (11) ASU Goals: Hedley (3), Lawlor, Stevens, Wyborny