April 9, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 17 Arizona State University water polo team put up a fight, but in the end could not score enough goals as the visiting No. 3 Stanford Cardinal handed the Sun Devils a 6-3 setback in an MPSF contest played Saturday at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe. The Sun Devils (6-13, 2-6 MPSF) trailed by one goal at the half and two at the end of three, but a strong Cardinal (13-4, 6-2 MPSF) defense prevented ASU from scoring again in the final stanza.
The game opened with a quick exclusion on ASU that led to SU's Hannah Luber finding the back of the net at the 6:26 mark. The visitors took a 2-0 lead with 1:26 remaining in the first quarter as Scotti Shafer scored an even-strength goal. But ASU fought back and, with 12 seconds remaining, Ashley Bower (So., Bondi Beach, Australia) converted a 4-meter penalty shot after Elaine Bentley (Jr., San Diego, Calif.) was fouled on her way to the goal. On the freebie, Bower hit the back of the net at the top right corner and brought the Sun Devils to within one score, 2-1. The Cardinal fought for another shot and got one as Katie Hansen scored with one second showing on the clock.
Less than two minutes into the second stanza, Katie Hedley (So., Lake Forest, Calif.) controlled the ball and, with the shot clock close to running out, lofted a shot that floated over SU goalie Meridith McColl to bring ASU back to within one goal at 3-2.
Following the intermission, SU tallied two goals, one at the 4:57 mark by Nancy El-Sakkary and one with 16 seconds remaining by Shafer, her second of the contest. But just as the visitors did to ASU at the end of the first quarter, the Sun Devils returned in kind as Bower scored with two seconds showing on the board to bring the game to a 5-3 tally. In the final stanza, SU recorded the only goal as Shafer completed the hat trick at the 5:58 mark following an ASU exclusion.
Despite the loss, goalie Caylinn Wallace (Fr., Laguna Hills, Calif.), the MPSF Player of the Week last week, recorded another double-digit save performance, this time stopping 10 shots.
The Sun Devils return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. for their home finale as they are set to face No. 9 San Jose State. The game also will mark the final home game for senior goalie Jennifer Sanderson (Walnut Creek, Calif.).