April 29, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. - The 2007 season of water polo came to a close on a down note for the Arizona State University program as the eighth-seeded Sun Devils dropped a tough 9-8 decision to seventh-seeded California Sunday morning in the ninth-place game of the MPSF Water Polo Championship that was held at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe. The Sun Devils closed out the year with a 14-14 overall record while Cal finished 12-11.
Cal jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as Darby Anderson and Meghan Corso each scored in the opening two minutes of play before Addison Doud scored on the power play to cut the deficit to 2-1. But, the Golden Bears would add two more scores with Doud squeezing in a score between the two goals to close out the stanza with the Sun Devils trailing, 4-2.
The Sun Devils responded, however, as Kelly Phelps scored to make it 4-3 before Cal made it 5-3 on a goal from Molly Hayes. Amanda Stepp scored with 2:03 remaining in the half to bring ASU to within one before Ali Gronow converted a power-play attempt to tie the game at five.
Following the intermission, the Golden Bears would score three in a row to take a commanding 8-5 lead with Ashley Bower scoring at 4:46 to send the game into the fourth quarter with Cal ahead, 8-6. The Golden Bears scored first to make the score 9-6 before Stepp scored to cut the lead to 9-7. Katy Lawlor scored on the power play with 0:24 seconds remaining, but it was not enough as ASU fell, 9-8.
Caylinn Wallace halted 10 shots in the cage for the Sun Devils.