April 3, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. - On the strength of a record performance in the cage and timely scoring from the remainder of the team, the No. 18 Arizona State University water polo team made program history Sunday afternoon as the Sun Devils upset No. 8 UC Santa Barbara, 8-7, in overtime of an MPSF contest held at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe. The win for ASU (6-12, 2-5 MPSF), which ended a four-game losing streak, marked the first time the Sun Devils had defeated a Top 8 team in its history and just their second win over a Top 10 team after defeating the Gauchos (12-8, 3-4 MPSF), 7-4, a year ago in Santa Barbara, Calif., when the hosts were ranked 10th.
Although the Sun Devils trailed early in the game, their comeback effort was fueled by the record-setting performance of freshman goalie Caylinn Wallace (Fr., Laguna Hills, Calif.). The rookie net-minder collected 22 saves in the contest to surpass the previous mark of 19 Jennifer Sanderson (Sr., Walnut Creek, Calif.) recorded last year in a 6-4 loss to then-No. 6 Hawaii. Overall, Wallace tallied six stops in the fourth quarter alone to shutout the visitors and help send the game into overtime where ASU would eventually win.
One day removed from a 12-0 loss to No. 1 UCLA, the Sun Devils again struggled in the opening quarter of play against UCSB and found themselves trailing 3-0 at the end of one. ASU had several attempts on goal, but Gaucho goalie Christy Medigovich saved two shots while other players recorded field blocks to shut out ASU. UCSB added a fourth goal to open the second quarter before the Sun Devils caught fire and responded with a trio of scores of their own. At the 4:16 mark, Holly Newman (Jr., San Diego, Calif.) skipped a shot in to end the scoring drought before Katy Lawlor (Fr., El Segundo, Calif.) added a power play goal one minute later. With 1:22 remaining in the half, Katie Hedley (So., Lake Forest, Calif.) found the back of the net to bring ASU to with in one, 4-3.
Following the intermission, the Gauchos responded with a goal 24 seconds in to reclaim a two-goal cushion. Newman responded with her second goal of the game at the 5:06 mark to cut into the visitor's lead before UCSB again went up by two goals with a score at 4:18. But, 25 seconds later, Hedley added her second score of the game to bring the game to a 6-5 score with one quarter remaining.
In the fourth and with 5:33 showing on the clock, the Sun Devils tied the game at six as Tessa Wyborny (Jr., Walnut Creek, Calif.) scored a goal. With the shot clock running out, Wyborny lofted a shot to the upper left corner of the cage that fell in the goal and eventually send the game into overtime.
In the first of the two, three-minute extra sessions, the Sun Devils struck first as Ashley Bower (So., Bondi Beach, Australia) was able to rattle a shot off the post into the net for ASU's first lead of the game, 7-6. But 31 seconds later, UCSB tied the game at seven. In the second overtime period, Hedley tallied her third goal of the game with 1:20 remaining to put ASU on top, 8-7. As the clock counted down, the Sun Devils fought to keep the Gauchos off the score board with stingy defense.
But, with 48 seconds remaining, ASU was whistled for a 4-meter penalty shot. The ensuing shot headed toward the lower left corner of the cage where Wallace recorded her 22nd save of the game and ensure the upset.
ASU will return to action next weekend as the Sun Devils play host to their final two home games of the season when No. 3 Stanford and No. 10 San Jose State visit Tempe. The Sun Devils and Cardinal will meet at noon on Saturday, April 9, before ASU plays in its home finale against the Spartans at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 10.