April 5, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - Addison McGrath scored three goals and Caylinn Wallace stopped seven shots as the No. 7 Arizona State University water polo team defeated No. 17 UC Santa Barbara, 5-4, Saturday in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) game in Santa Barbara, Calif. The victory was historic for the Sun Devils as it raised their season record to 18-9 overall and 5-4 in the league while the Gauchos dropped to 4-15 overall and 0-9 in the MPSF.
The win marked the 100th in the history of the program, improving the Sun Devils' overall record to 100-111 over the course of the seven seasons the team has competed at the varsity level. The win also was the Sun Devils' seventh in a row, establishing a program record and bettering the six-game streak the team had earlier this season.
UCSB opened the game with a 1-0 lead through the first quarter of play before the Sun Devils got on the board in the second as Kelly Phelps scored on the advantage 34 seconds into the period. The goal was her 39th of the season, which ties her for eighth on the single season list. The current single-season record holder, McGrath, scored less than one minute later to give ASU the lead, but the Gauchos tied the score before the half for a 2-2 tie.
The third quarter was similar to the first as only one goal was scored, but this time it was scored by ASU as McGrath converted a 5-meter penalty shot at 1:24 to regain the lead. Then, in the fourth quarter, Bonnie Miles scored at 4:58 for a 4-2 lead before UCSB tallied at 3:12 to cut the lead to one. But, with 2:34 remaining in the contest, the Gauchos were called for a penalty that McGrath again converted for the 5-3 lead. UCSB would score just seconds later, but the ASU defense shut out the hosts the remaining 2:11 for the win.
The Sun Devils will play twice next weekend, opening with a noon game on Saturday at home against No. 15 CS Northridge before closing the weekend on the road for a noon contest at No. 1 UCLA on Sunday.
#7 Arizona State at #17 UC Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, Calif.
AZSU - 0 - 2 - 1 - 2 = 5
UCSB - 1 - 1 - 0 - 2 = 4
ASU Goals - McGrath 3, Miles, Phelps
ASU Saves - Wallace 7