Feb. 21, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - Playing in its first game as a member of the national Top 10, the No. 8 Arizona State University water polo team held on to upset No. 5 Hawaii for the second time this season as the Sun Devils opened their home slate with an 8-7 victory Tuesday night at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe. The victory in ASU's first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) game of the season improved the Sun Devils to 6-2 (1-0 MPSF) while dropping the Rainbow Wahine to 3-4 (1-2 MSPF).
At the Stanford Invitational February 11-12, the Sun Devils, then ranked No. 16, scored an 8-5 upset of then-No. 4 Hawaii to open pool play at the tournament. The win gave the Sun Devils a victory over the highest ranked foe in their existence and, at the time, marked just the fourth victory over a Top 10 foe.
ASU opened the game with the first score of the contest as Addison Doud (Fr., Laguna Beach, Calif.) scored on a four-meter penalty shot. Then, Doud followed that with her second score of the contest with 2:45 remaining in the stanza on a back-hand shot for a 2-0 lead. UH cut the deficit to one goal with just over one minute remaining as Iefke Van Belkum scored.
Both team's offense caught fire in the second quarter as each found the back of the net on three occasions. Exclusions and penalty shots assisted both sides with the Sun Devils taking a 3-1 lead as Raelyn Ritchie (Jr., Newport Beach, Calif.) scored on an advantage situation before Rowie Webster (Fr., Melbourne, Australia) scored on a four-meter shot with 3:51 remaining for a 4-1 lead. But UH stormed back as it scored the next three goals to knot the game at four with 2:30 remaining before the intermission. Following a time out, the Sun Devils regrouped and regained the lead, this time for good, as Webster scored on an advantage situation.
Leading 5-4 at the break, the Sun Devils again came out and scored the first goal of the stanza, this time seeing Ashley Bower (Jr., Bondi Beach, Australia) finding the back of the net for a 6-4 lead. But UH answered with a goal at 5:13 to again pull with in one. The Sun Devils answered right back as Bower scored one minute later and Webster added a goal to push the host's advantage to 8-5 with one quarter to play.
Although ASU did not score in the final quarter, the defense played strong, using several field blocks and saves from goalie Caylinn Wallace (So., Laguna Hills, Calif.) to maintain the lead and record the victory. Wallace recorded seven saves on the game while UH goalie Meike De Nooy tallied eight.
The Sun Devils return to action this weekend as they are set to compete in the 2006 Gaucho Invitational at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday and Sunday. ASU opens with No. 9 San Diego State before facing three opponents to be determined.
#8 Arizona State defeats #5 Hawaii, 8-7
#5 UH 1 - 3 - 1 - 2 = 7
#8 AS 2 - 3 - 3 - 0 = 8
Goals
ASU: Rowie Webster (3), Addison Doud (2), Ashley Bower (2), Raelyn Ritchie
UH: Iefke Van Belkum (3), Kelly Mason (2), Kristy Bagnall, Sabrina Cook
Saves
ASU: Caylinn Wallace (7)
UH: Meike De Nooy (8)