March 4, 2007
Score Sheet (pdf)
TEMPE, Ariz. - In a back and forth contest and several two-goal leads throughout, the No. 11 Arizona State University water polo team needed an overtime goal to lift it to an 11-10 upset of No. 6 San Jose State in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) play Sunday at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe. The victory, the first for the Sun Devils against a Top 10 foe this season, pushed the team's record to 4-7 overall and 1-2 in league play while the Spartans slipped to 6-9 overall and 3-4 in the MPSF.
SJSU took an early 1-0 lead as Alexis Higlett scored 30 seconds into the game before the Sun Devils would tie and take their first lead later in the quarter. Ali Gronow scored on the advantage at 5:16 before Addison Doud found the back of the net at set to stake the hosts to a 2-1 lead. But, Bridget McKee would score just 12 seconds later to again tie the game before the Sun Devils saw Katie Hedley score an advantage goal with 1:31 remaining. After a goal from Cynthia Gazzolo tied the game at three, Doud would score with 10 seconds remaining, capitalizing on a five-meter penalty shot for a 4-3 lead after one.
Doud put the hosts back on top by two as she scored at 6:33 in the second to push the lead to 5-3. But, the Spartans would score twice in a row to tie the game at five before Hedley's goal at 2:13 would send the hosts into the intermission with a 6-5 lead. The visitors tied the game at six to open the third period before Ashley Bower scored twice in a row for an 8-6 lead. Juliet Moss would score with 39 seconds remaining in the third to cut the lead to 8-7.
The fourth opened with the Spartans getting another goal from Moss before Doud netted her fourth of the game. Katy Lawlor found the back of the net at 5:38 for her first of the contest and a 10-8 ASU lead, but the Spartans would score twice more, including a Moss goal at 2:12 to force the extra sessions.
In the first overtime period, both teams had several scoring chances with only ASU capitalizing as Amanda Stepp took a pass from goalie Caylinn Wallace, beat the defense on the break away and scored for the 11-10 lead. In the final overtime session, both teams could not score with Wallace making two stops to preserve the win. Wallace ended the game with 14 saves for the second game in a row.
ASU returns to home competition next weekend as it plays host to No. 2 UCLA in a noon contest on Saturday, March 10, in Tempe.
#11 Arizona State defeats #6 San Jose State, 11-10 (OT)
ASU Goals: Doud (4), Bower (2), Hedley (2), Gronow, Lawlor, Stepp
SJSU Goals: Moss (5), Gazzolo, Higlett, Lowry, McKee, Torres