TEMPE – Redshirt sophomore Mia Rycraw made her debut as the ace goalkeeper for the sixth-ranked Sun Devil water polo team a memorable one and was rewarded for the effort by being named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week.
Rycraw finished with 31 saves in two games and allowed just 13 goals (.705 save percentage), stopped a penalty shot, had three steals and added an assist for measure. Her efforts helped the Sun Devils to a 2-0 record to start the year in a sweep over No. 14 Indiana in the season-opening ASU Invitational.
Rycraw stopped a career best 16 shots in a 10-5 victory in the first game against the Hoosiers, pitching a first half shutout in the process and matching the ninth-best single game total in ASU history.
In game two, Rycraw notched the first three steals of her career – leading the team – while stopping a penalty shot and adding a pool-length pass for a fast break assist – also the first of her career.
The sophomore out of Walnut High School in Walnut, Calif., is in her first season as the primary keeper in the cage following the graduation of three-time All-American E.B. Keeve.
It is the first career MPSF honor for Rycraw, who is nearly halfway to her career saves total after posting 80 as a reserve keeper last season as a freshman.
The Sun Devils return to action beginning Saturday, Feb. 7 at the UCSD Triton Invitational in San Diego.