March 25, 2007
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The No. 11 Arizona State University water polo team jumped to an early lead and held on to defeat host and 20th-ranked CS Northridge, 8-6, Sunday in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) contest in Northridge, Calif. The Sun Devils improved to 5-9 overall and 2-4 in the MPSF while the Matadors slipped to 9-12 overall and 0-7 in league play.
ASU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before ending the first quarter with a 4-2 lead. Both teams added a pair of goals in the second quarter before the Sun Devils outscored the Matadors, 2-1, in the third stanza for an 8-5 lead. CSUN scored once in the fourth quarter to end the scoring with ASU on top, 8-6.
Katie Hedley and Kelly Phelps both scored twice in the game to lead ASU offensively while Kim Buck, Addison Doud, Amanda Stepp and Lindsay Williams each scored once. Doud and Stepp both recorded a pair of assists while Ashley Bower assisted on one goal.
Doud also helped spark the offense by drawing five kick-outs while Hedley, Stepp and Traci Aparicio each recorded one kick-out in the contest. Doud and Williams each earned a five-meter penalty shot, but neither were able to convert the opportunity into a goal.
Defensively, Caylinn Wallace stopped 14 shots, including one five-meter penalty shot, while recording four steals. Wallace and the defense also played strong when playing one person down, preventing the Matadors from scoring on any of their 12, 6-on-5 advantages.
The Sun Devils will play host to several games at home this weekend, starting with a 6:30 p.m. contest against No. 12 UC Santa Barbara Friday night before playing host to the ASU Invitational on Saturday and Sunday. The Sun Devils will welcome No. 4 San Diego State, No. 12 UCSB, No. 17 Michigan, Cal Baptist and Redlands to Tempe for the two-day event.
#11 Arizona State defeats #20 CS Northridge, 8-6
ASU Goals: Hedley (2), Phelps (2), Buck, Doud, Stepp, Williams
CSN Goals: Cruz (2), Van Gorder (2), Brookes (2)
ASU Saves: Wallace (14)
CSN Saves: Stapf (14), Cruz (1)