April 25, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 4 Arizona State University water polo team dropped a 12-6 decision to No. 3 USC in the quarterfinals of the 2008 MPSF Championships at the Aztec Aquaplex in San Diego on Saturday afternoon and will now look to rebound on Saturday to place among the Top 5 in the event. The Sun Devils slipped to 21-11 on the season while the Trojans improved to 18-6 this year.
USC opened the game with a 3-1 lead through the first quarter of play before both teams scored twice each in the second stanza to put ASU down, 5-3, at the half. The Trojans outscored the Sun Devils, 4-2, in the third before taking the fourth, 3-1, for the 12-6 final.
Addison McGrath led the way for the Sun Devils on the offensive end as she scored three goals for the second tournament game in a row while Bonnie Miles, Kelly Phelps and Amanda Stepp each added one goal. On the defensive side, Caylinn Wallace recorded a game-high nine saves in the loss.
The Sun Devils will return to the pool on Saturday in a 1:30 p.m. game with seventh-seeded California to determine the highest placement each team can receive. If the Sun Devils win, they will take on the winner of #4 San Diego State/#8 San Jose State on Sunday for fifth place while a loss to the Golden Bears would pit the Sun Devils against the loser of the SDSU/SJSU game for seventh place.
#3 USC vs. #4 Arizona State
MPSF Championships - Quarterfinal - San Diego
USC - 3 - 2 - 4 - 3 = 12
ASU - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 = 6
ASU Goals - McGrath 3, Miles, Phelps, Stepp
USC Goals - Bartunkova 3, Davies 3, Lucas 2, Stein 2, J. Anae, Kiss
ASU Saves - Wallace 9
USC Saves - T. Anae 7, Morgan 1