TEMPE, Ariz. – The fifth-ranked Arizona State University water polo team will open the 2017 season this weekend at home as it hosts the first of two scheduled ASU Invitationals at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe, Ariz. 
 
The Sun Devils will square off with No. 15 San Diego State University in the first of three games to be held on Saturday, Jan. 28 with a scheduled start time of 11 a.m. MST.  Following Saturday's game, the Sun Devils will hit the pool again for a doubleheader Sunday featuring a 9 a.m. matchup against No. 21 Wagner, followed by a 1 p.m. tilt against No. 8 UC Santa Barbara. 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
 
No. 15 SDSU (0-0)
 
San Diego State enters the week sporting a No. 15 ranking. The Aztecs opened with a preseason ranking of No. 15 before moving up one spot to No. 14 last week. The Aztecs are coming off a 2016 season that saw them win their third straight Golden Coast regular-season championship after posting a 7-0 record, which ran their all-time league record to 19-0. SDSU later went on to win the GCC tournament to give it the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Championship
 
No. 21 Wagner (0-0)

The Seahawks enter the 2017 season coming off their third consecutive MAAC Championship as they bested Marist 8-5 a season ago to claim the crown en route to a 29-10 overall record. Despite losing three 2016 All-MAAC selections to graduation, two-time MAAC Coach of the Year Chris Radmonovich returns MAAC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year Emily Riddle and Preseason All-MAAC selection Kimberly Watson.
 
No. 8 UCSB (4-2)

After playing six games in three days this past weekend, the Gauchos will enter the Arizona State Tournament to face a pair of teams that have yet to begin their season. Entering the weekend with a 4-2 record on the season, UCSB will look to bounce back after suffering a 19-5 loss at the hands of No. 2 USC in their last time out. The Sun Devils have found success against the Gauchos, winning nine straight meetings between the teams dating back to 2007.
 
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Fans can follow the Sun Devils throughout the weekend by following @ASUWaterPolo on Twitter. Live stats will also be available via The Fosh.
 
RECENT SUCCESS
 
The Sun Devils have established themselves as one of the elite teams in the country in the last couple years. Since 2012, the Sun Devils have compiled an incredible 104-38 record under head coach Todd Clapper. In that time, the team has posted 18 All-America honors while earning the first victory over UCLA in program history, beating Cal on the road for the first time ever and matching a program best upset with a victory over second-ranked USC two seasons ago. ASU advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history in 2014, taking fifth overall with a victory over UC Irvine. The Sun Devils posted a program-best fourth-place finish in the MPSF Championships and CWPA Final Coaches Poll in 2013 (peaking at a program best No. 3 in the 2013 regular season) and set school records in wins in two of those seasons as well.
 
#NEXTMANUP
 
The Sun Devils lost two All-Americans to graduation following the 2016 season and put a sizeable dent in the returning statistics as a result. Through the 2017 campaign, the Sun Devils will be tasked with replacing two of the team's top-three goal scorers including Daisy Carter and Katie Svercheck who netted a combined 67 goals last season. The Sun Devils will also look to replace Ao Gao, a veteran leader who accounted for 43 points on 60 shots and 35 steals during the 2016 season. Among those returning to fill that void is sophomore Maud Koopman and Lena Mihailovic. The dynamic duo combined for 61 goals and 64 steals a season ago, and will be tabbed to anchor this year's ASU squad.
 
NOT IN MY HOUSE
 
The Sun Devils are fortunate to return one of the nation's top goalies in Mia Rycraw, who made 23 starts last season. The Walnut, Calif., native shut down opposing offenses during the Sun Devil's 2016 season, recording 265 saves over the course of the season to average 11.52 saves per game.   
 
POWERFUL POWER PLAY
 
Much like the game of hockey, water polo provides teams with a great opportunity with the exclusion rule for hard penalties and the Sun Devils did a good job last season of taking advantage of the situation in 6-on-5 advantages while limited opponents in their own chances.  ASU outscored the opposition 59-45 last season in 6v5 goals and limited opponents to just 31 percent scoring in those situations (45goals on 145 chances).