ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The fifth-ranked Arizona State Sun Devil water polo team swept the final day of play at the 2017 Wolverine Invitational Sunday, topping Santa Clara, 14-2, before recording their second-ever shutout victory over Bucknell, 11-0, Sunday afternoon at the Canham Natatorium.
"We have a very talented and competitive group," head coach Todd Clapper said. "The team wants to improve and use the experience gained from the games to get closer to the team that we know that we can become. In the first game today, we started to see some good moments playing as a team and working for each other. In the second game, we got into a rhythm defensively early, and then the offense started to click in the second half."
The Sun Devils combined for 25 goals on the day, while only allowing two goals against, their lowest goals allowed in back-to-back games this season.
Game One: ASU 14, Santa Clara 2
In the first half of the Sunday doubleheader, Arizona State faced Santa Clara. The Sun Devils jumped out in front of the Broncos with a goals by Claudia Abad and Lena Mihailovic combined to give ASU a 2-0 lead after the first quarter of play.
The Sun Devils remained in control in the second, as freshman Bente Rogge broke through for another ASU goal, before the Broncos finally got on the board at the 3:19 mark of the second quarter. The Sun Devils would respond, however, with back-to-back goals to send the game to halftime with ASU leading 5-1.
With the third quarter underway, the Broncos tallied the first goal on the second half, but would be stymied by a four goal effort from the Sun Devils, including three goals by Stephanie Contreras in the quarter, sending the game to the final quarter with ASU leading 9-2.
It would be all ASU in the final frame, as the Sun Devils would combine for five unanswered goals to cap the 14-2 victory. In total eight different ASU players scored a goal, including a four goal effort from Contreras.
Game two: ASU 11, Bucknell 0
The Devils wasted no time getting on the board early on, needing just one minute to dart one through the pipes courtesy of sophomore PJ Allin. ASU would go on to attempt six more shots in the first period, however, Bucknell was able to corral all of them.
Junior Lena Mihailovic added a goal of her own in the second period, her second goal of the day. With just under three minutes left in the period, Kayla Casas muscled one in to stake a 3-0 lead for the Devils.
The Maroon and Gold burst through in the third and fourth periods, scoring four goals in both frames. The trend started when freshman Bente Rogge put one past the goalie and Mihailovic followed with one of her own just 30 seconds later, bringing the score to 5-0.
Senior Alkistis Benekou and sophomore Rosie Huck would tack on two more in the third period, with Huck adding another to start off the fourth. Goals by junior Taylor Bertrand and freshman Catherine Simko would give the Devils a hefty 10-0 lead, and Huck would pin the final nail in the coffin for the Bison to bring the score to the final 11-0.
Senior Taylor Barrett shined for the Devils in the shutout victory, going a perfect 24-for-24 in saves. The California-native got the start in game two after goalie Mia Rycraw saw most of the action during game one against Santa Clara.
The Sun Devils will be back in action next Saturday as the team will host the ASU Invite at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex. The six game event is scheduled to begin with a 10 a.m. meeting between Laverne and Marist, before the Sun Devils take the pool to face top-ranked Stanford at 1 p.m.
"We have a very talented and competitive group," head coach Todd Clapper said. "The team wants to improve and use the experience gained from the games to get closer to the team that we know that we can become. In the first game today, we started to see some good moments playing as a team and working for each other. In the second game, we got into a rhythm defensively early, and then the offense started to click in the second half."
The Sun Devils combined for 25 goals on the day, while only allowing two goals against, their lowest goals allowed in back-to-back games this season.
Game One: ASU 14, Santa Clara 2
In the first half of the Sunday doubleheader, Arizona State faced Santa Clara. The Sun Devils jumped out in front of the Broncos with a goals by Claudia Abad and Lena Mihailovic combined to give ASU a 2-0 lead after the first quarter of play.
The Sun Devils remained in control in the second, as freshman Bente Rogge broke through for another ASU goal, before the Broncos finally got on the board at the 3:19 mark of the second quarter. The Sun Devils would respond, however, with back-to-back goals to send the game to halftime with ASU leading 5-1.
With the third quarter underway, the Broncos tallied the first goal on the second half, but would be stymied by a four goal effort from the Sun Devils, including three goals by Stephanie Contreras in the quarter, sending the game to the final quarter with ASU leading 9-2.
It would be all ASU in the final frame, as the Sun Devils would combine for five unanswered goals to cap the 14-2 victory. In total eight different ASU players scored a goal, including a four goal effort from Contreras.
Game two: ASU 11, Bucknell 0
The Devils wasted no time getting on the board early on, needing just one minute to dart one through the pipes courtesy of sophomore PJ Allin. ASU would go on to attempt six more shots in the first period, however, Bucknell was able to corral all of them.
Junior Lena Mihailovic added a goal of her own in the second period, her second goal of the day. With just under three minutes left in the period, Kayla Casas muscled one in to stake a 3-0 lead for the Devils.
The Maroon and Gold burst through in the third and fourth periods, scoring four goals in both frames. The trend started when freshman Bente Rogge put one past the goalie and Mihailovic followed with one of her own just 30 seconds later, bringing the score to 5-0.
Senior Alkistis Benekou and sophomore Rosie Huck would tack on two more in the third period, with Huck adding another to start off the fourth. Goals by junior Taylor Bertrand and freshman Catherine Simko would give the Devils a hefty 10-0 lead, and Huck would pin the final nail in the coffin for the Bison to bring the score to the final 11-0.
Senior Taylor Barrett shined for the Devils in the shutout victory, going a perfect 24-for-24 in saves. The California-native got the start in game two after goalie Mia Rycraw saw most of the action during game one against Santa Clara.
The Sun Devils will be back in action next Saturday as the team will host the ASU Invite at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex. The six game event is scheduled to begin with a 10 a.m. meeting between Laverne and Marist, before the Sun Devils take the pool to face top-ranked Stanford at 1 p.m.