TEMPE, Ariz. – The fourth-ranked Arizona State water polo team fell, 13-5, to No. 3 UCLA Saturday afternoon at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
Arizona State went toe-to-toe with the UCLA, but the Bruins' unyielding offense proved to be a challenge for the Devils.
"I think offensively we did okay toady," said head coach Todd Clapper. "We were getting the ball into center and drawing exclusions, our six on five was pretty good, particularly in the first half. That team is really good, they wear you down and are fast on the counter attack. I wish our defensive reactions would have been a little better. Sometimes we were in zone and we weren't getting out to shooters. I felt like we gave them some easy opportunities on the counter and in the front court."
The Sun Devils and Bruins opened the match going back and forth, until the Bruins netted the first goal of the day halfway into the first period. Claudia Abad refused to let ASU go scoreless into the second frame, and fired a shot with 1:18 left on the clock, to make it a 2-1 game after the first quarter of play.
Both squads added to the score in the first minute of the second, as Abad knocked in her second goal in response to the Bruins' score, making it a 3-2 game. UCLA began to pull away after two-consecutive goals gave UCLA a 5-2 edge, but Bente Rogge fired back with a score for the Sun Devils. The Bruins put up two more before the horn and Arizona State exited the half trailing, 7-3.
UCLA continued their run after the break, outscoring the Sun Devils 3-0 in the third frame and 1-0 in the fourth. The Devils would not go quietly, and goals from Alkistis Benekou and Maud Koopman cut the deficit to 12-5 with four minutes left to play. Despite the late-game effort by Arizona State, the squad was unable to recover from the Bruin attack.
Goalie Mia Rycraw turned in another brilliant performance with 11 saves. Rycraw also recorded 11 saves last week against No. 1 USC, marking her third-straight game with at least ten saves.
The Sun Devils will be back in action on Saturday, April 15, as they take on San Jose State at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST.
Arizona State went toe-to-toe with the UCLA, but the Bruins' unyielding offense proved to be a challenge for the Devils.
"I think offensively we did okay toady," said head coach Todd Clapper. "We were getting the ball into center and drawing exclusions, our six on five was pretty good, particularly in the first half. That team is really good, they wear you down and are fast on the counter attack. I wish our defensive reactions would have been a little better. Sometimes we were in zone and we weren't getting out to shooters. I felt like we gave them some easy opportunities on the counter and in the front court."
The Sun Devils and Bruins opened the match going back and forth, until the Bruins netted the first goal of the day halfway into the first period. Claudia Abad refused to let ASU go scoreless into the second frame, and fired a shot with 1:18 left on the clock, to make it a 2-1 game after the first quarter of play.
Both squads added to the score in the first minute of the second, as Abad knocked in her second goal in response to the Bruins' score, making it a 3-2 game. UCLA began to pull away after two-consecutive goals gave UCLA a 5-2 edge, but Bente Rogge fired back with a score for the Sun Devils. The Bruins put up two more before the horn and Arizona State exited the half trailing, 7-3.
UCLA continued their run after the break, outscoring the Sun Devils 3-0 in the third frame and 1-0 in the fourth. The Devils would not go quietly, and goals from Alkistis Benekou and Maud Koopman cut the deficit to 12-5 with four minutes left to play. Despite the late-game effort by Arizona State, the squad was unable to recover from the Bruin attack.
Goalie Mia Rycraw turned in another brilliant performance with 11 saves. Rycraw also recorded 11 saves last week against No. 1 USC, marking her third-straight game with at least ten saves.
The Sun Devils will be back in action on Saturday, April 15, as they take on San Jose State at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST.