Feb. 25, 2012
#4 Cal 8, #5 Arizona State 5
The Arizona State University team got off to a hot start but cooled down the stretch as the squad suffered its first loss of the season, 8-5, to No. 4 California.
The Sun Devils jumped out to an early 4-3 lead after the first quarter before the Golden Bear defense clamped down. Arizona State didn’t find the back of the net in either the second or third quarters as Cal climbed to an 8-4 edge before ASU got back on the board with a goal in the fourth.
Senior Alicia Brightwell added three more goals to up her total to six on the day while Ianeta Hutchinson had 11 saves in the goal, but neither performance was enough as the Sun Devils fell to 13-1 on the season.
The Sun Devils’ five goals were its lowest scoring output of the year. However, it should be noted that the team’s 13-0 start prior to the loss to Cal more than doubled the previous best start in program history.
Arizona State can still finish as high as fifth and will open tomorrow against #9 San Diego State.
#4 California def. #5 Arizona State, 8-5
Cal – 3-3-1-1 = 8
ASU – 4-0-0-1 = 5
GOALS
Cal: Price - 2, Young - 2, Williams, Ochsner, Schroeder, Mendoza
ASU: Brightwell - 3, Kertes, Kreek
SAVES
Dorst (CAL) – 9
Hutchinson (ASU) - 11