Feb. 4, 2012
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The #6 Arizona State University women’s water polo team is off to its best start in program history after sweeping its second consecutive tournament and improving to 8-0 after another dominating effort at the Cal Baptist Mini Lancer Invite on Saturday.
The Sun Devils scored double digits in each of its three games in the tournament en route to outscoring its opponents 45-14 in victories over #20 CSU Northridge, CSU Bakersfield and CSU San Bernardino.
Prior to this season’s current start, the best start that the Arizona State program (now in its 11th year) had posted was a 6-0 run to start the 2009 season.
#6 Arizona State 10, #20 CSU Northridge 5
The Sun Devils had their work cut out from them in the tournament opener against a scrappy CSU Northridge team. Northridge became the first team to take a lead against the Sun Devils this season, scoring the first goal of the match on a Marisa Young shot with 6:28 left in the first quarter.
ASU’s Alicia Brightwell answered with her 17th goal of the season just about a minute later and the Sun Devils took a 2-1 lead on a Shannon Haas goal heading into the second quarter.
The Matadors scored back-to-back goals just 34 second apart to reclaim the lead before the Sun Devils would score the next three goals to head into the break with a 5-3 advantage.
Both squads netted goals in the third before ASU was finally able to pull ahead in the fourth, holding CSUN scoreless while adding three goals in the final four minutes for the final tally.
The story of the game came on the defensive end, as ASU was able to hold CSUN 0-for-8 when the Matadors had an exclusion advantage and capitalized on 4-of-7 opportunities when ASU had the extra attacker.
Ianeta Hutchinson was a force in the goal, stopping 11 attempts to the five goals allowed for a .688 save percentage.
Brightwell would wind up with three goals on the game while senior Annabelle Carter netted two goals to lead the Sun Devils.
#6 Arizona State def. #20 CSU Northridge, 10-5
ASU – 2-3-2-3 = 10
CSUN – 1-2-2-0 = 5
GOALS
ASU: Brightwell 3, Carter 2, Kertes, Haas, Salloum, Pardi, Fowler
CSUN: Nelson 2, Young, Doll, Jamison
SAVES
ASU: Hutchinson 10
CSUN: Harvey 5