March 28, 2006
Stat Sheet (pdf)
TEMPE, Ariz. - In a battle of Top 10 teams, the No. 10 Arizona State University water polo team took and early lead but could not hold on as visiting No. 6 California used a four-goal run to secure an 8-7 decision at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe Tuesday night. With the loss, the Sun Devils slipped to 11-8 overall on the year and 3-4 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play while the Golden Bears improved to 10-7 (4-2 MPSF).
Cal opened the game with the first goal as Elsie Windes netted a goal at the 6:00 mark before the Sun Devils stormed back with two goals of their own to close out the first quarter of play. In the stanza, Addison Doud scored on the 6-on-5 advantage to tie the game at one before Ashley Bower pushed home a point-blank shot after two Golden Bears had been ejected within 11 seconds of one another. The Sun Devils improved their lead to two goals in the second quarter as Rowie Webster, the team's leading scorer, found the back of the net with nearly two minutes gone for a 3-1 ASU lead.
But the Golden Bears struck back with two goals as Allison Gold scored on the advantage and Molly Hayes tied the game at three with an even-strength goal. ASU, however, would head into the intermission with the lead as Bower again tallied with 33 seconds remaining for the 4-3 lead.
Following the break, the Sun Devils again extended their lead to two goals as Traci Aparicio put home a hard liner from seven meters at the 5:19 mark, but the Golden Bears answered right back one minute later as Lauren McGee scored at 4:10. The game was tied at five each when Windes added her second score on a penalty shot.
In the final quarter of play, both teams battled for control with Cal taking the lead as they scored three goals in a row to mount an 8-5 advantage. Breana Allison scored at the 5:17 mark for the Golden Bears' second lead of the night before McGee would add two goals from the set position to cap the visitors' scoring. Despite the deficit, the Sun Devils continued to battle and, with 1:43 remaining, cut the deficit to two goals as Webster lobbed a shot over the goalie's hands from the wing. Then, with 1:16 showing, Webster scored on a hard outside shot on the advantage to cut the score to 8-7.
With the clock winding down the Sun Devils with the ball, Katy Lawlor tried to fire home the game-tying goal, but goalie Heather Stuart recorded her 11th save of the game to seal the win for Cal. Her counterpart, Caylinn Wallace, recorded nine saves in the game to keep ASU in the contest.
The Sun Devils take to the road this weekend as they search for more victories in conference play by taking on No. 11 UC Irvine and No. 12 Long Beach State. The Sun Devils and Anteaters will meet at noon Saturday in Irvine, Calif., before ASU faces the 49ers at noon on Sunday.
Goal Scorers
ASU - Rowie Webster 3, Ashley Bower 2, Traci Aparicio, Addison Doud
Cal - Lauren McGee 3, Elsie Windes 2, Breana Allison, Allison Gold, Molly Hayes
Goalie Saves
ASU - Caylinn Wallace 9
Cal - Heather Stuart 11