LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The Sun Devils rallied from their first deficit of the season to defeat No. 11 UCSB in the quarterfinals of the Triton Invitational to improve to 4-0 on the season following an earlier 16-5 victory over CSU East Bay.
Daisy Carter led the Sun Devils with five goals on the day – four of which came against the Gauchos as her two second-half goals helped spark the winning rally.
With the win, the Sun Devils will now advance to the semifinals of the tournament and take on No. 2 USC tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. MT for a shot at the finals.
Full recaps of Saturday’s action can be found below.
#5 ASU 7, #11 UCSB 6
For the first time this season, the Sun Devils found themselves in a hole. And for the first time this year, they got themselves out f it.
Daisy Carter scored two goals in the second half and ASU outscored the Gauchos 3-1 over the final 16 minutes of the game to take a quarterfinal victory and improve to 4-0 on the season.
The Sun Devils got four first quarter goals and things looked to be on their way toward a high-scoring affair. But the offense wasn’t there in the second as ASU put up its first scoreless period of the year to keep things interest.
The Gauchos put up a three-spot in the first – the first three goals given up by ASU in the first quarter this year – and added two more in the second to take a 5-4 lead at the midway point.
The Sun Devils – who were 0-6 a year ago when trailing at halftime – were up to task, however.
Abbey Kerth’s goal – her second of the game - just under two minutes into the half drew things even and then Carter followed that with back-to-back goals at 4:52 and 2:05 in the third quarter to give the Sun Devils a 7-5 lead.
The Gauchos got one back in the fourth at the 1:50 mark, but the Sun Devils staved of three 5-on-6 situations in the final frame to hold on for the victory.
All told, ASU help UCSB to just a single goal on seven power play chances while scoring on 3 of their 9 attempts with the man advantage.
ASU also got a goal from Katie Sverchek while Mia Rycraw had eight saves in the contest. Sverchek, Rycraw and Carter each had two steals a piece in the game to pave the defensive effort.
BOX SCORE
ASU – 4-0-3-0=7
UCSB – 3-2-0-1=6
Goals
Carter 4, Kerth 2, Sverchek,
Assists
Mihailovic 2, Sverchek
Saves
Rycraw 9
#5 ASU 16, #25 CSUEB 5
For the third time in as many games this season, the No. 5 Arizona State University water polo team shut out its opponent in the first quarter and put the hammer down early en route to a 16-5 victory over No. 25 CSU East Bay in the opening game of the Triton Invitational on Saturday in La Jolla, Calif.
The Devils outscored the Pioneers 5-0 in the opening frame and have outscored opponents 12-0 on the season in the first quarter of games and 22-4 in the first half in three games this year.
Katie Sverchek continued to assert herself as maybe one of the most improved players in the nation, netting a team-leading three goals to lead the way for the Sun Devils in a game where nine players got into the scorebook.
Rosie Huck, Maud Koopman, Lena Mihailovic, Taylor Bertrand and Stephanie Contreras each added two goals for ASU while Abbey Kerth, Kayla Casas and Daisy Carter also scored.
The Devils absolutely smothered CSUEB on defense, allowing the Pioneers to take just nine total shots in the contest. ASU posted an incredible 17 steals in the contest, nearly matching its total from the first two games combined this season.
Goalkeeper Mia Rycraw led the team with three steals and allowed just two goals in one half of action.
ASU went 2-for-2 with a man advantage in the game and allowed CSUEB to just 2-of-8 (25 percent) on their power play opportunities.
With the victory, the Sun Devils advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament and will take on No. 11 UC Santa Barbara in today’s nightcap, scheduled for 6:20 p.m. MT.
BOX SCORE
ASU – 5-5-3-3=16
CSUEB – 0-2-2-1=5
Goals
Sverchek 3, Huck 2, Casas 2, Koopman 2, Bertrand 2, Contreras 2, Carter, Casas, Kerth
Assists
Gao 2, Contreras, Mihailovic, Casas, Carter, Sverchek, Allin
Saves
Rycraw 2, Barrett 2