March 26, 2006
Score Sheet (pdf)
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 10 Arizona State University water polo team put up a fight, but it was not enough to hand No. 1 USC its first loss of the season as the Trojans scored a 13-6 defeat of the Sun Devils in MPSF action Sunday afternoon at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The Sun Devils slipped to 11-7 overall and 3-3 in the MPSF on the season while the top-ranked Trojans are now 18-0 and 6-0 in the conference.
The Sun Devils kept the game close at the onset as both teams traded goals in the opening minutes of play, including an advantage goal by Rowie Webster at 4:40 in the first. From there, however, the visitors would add the next two scores before Katie Hedley found the back of the net at 2:04 to bring the score to 3-2. But USC would add two more goals at the close of the quarter, including one with three seconds remaining to end the first stanza with the Sun Devils trailing, 5-2.
The second quarter brought about similar results as the Trojans added two more goals while shutting out the hosts to take a 7-2 lead at intermission. Following the break, USC would again add two more scores before Webster scored her second goal of the game by converting a 4-meter penalty shot. But the Trojans responded once again and scored three more goals to bring the score to 12-3 with one quarter remaining.
In the final stanza, the Sun Devils put together a nice run of their own as they scored three goals. Addison Doud scored on a rocket shot from outside on the advantage before Webster capped her hat trick with another advantage goal. The Sun Devil scoring came to a close with 1:09 remaining as Adriane Mota scored to bring the total to 12-6. USC added a goal with four seconds remaining to bring about the final score.
On the defensive end, Caylinn Wallace recorded four saves while Trojan goalie Whitney Morgan recorded seven.
ASU will play one more home game in the coming days as its plays host to No. 6 California on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The game time is being pushed back by 30 minutes due to concerns of the setting sun causing too much glare.