TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 5 Arizona State women's water polo team took down No. 20 Princeton, 14-9, on Friday in the Sun Devils' home opener and the first game of the ASU Cross Conference Challenge.
Arizona State (4-0) netted a season-high 14 goals on the day to secure the victory over the Tigers (0-1). Four Sun Devils recorded a multi-goal performance on the day, led by sophomore Bente Rogge, who scored a game-high four goals on only six shots. In addition, senior Alkistis Benekou and junior Maud Koopman each recorded hat tricks, while senior attacker Lena Mihailovic posted two goals in her first action this season.
It took Benekou just over a minute into the first quarter to open up the scoring for the Sun Devils on the day, continuing her impressive start to the 2018 campaign. Benekou now boasts a team-high 12 goals on the season after her three-goal performance, posting a multi-goal outing in all four games of the season.
Princeton responded after Benekou's goal in the first quarter with two goals of its own, taking a 2-1 lead over the Sun Devils. ASU would not trail for long, thanks to Rogge and Koopman then netting consecutive goals to give ASU a 3-2 lead.
Princeton struck first offensively in the second quarter, scoring the first goal of the period to tie the game at 3-3.
"The first quarter and a half we weren't playing well together," said ASU head coach Todd Clapper. "We were playing OK and had some bright moments, but weren't really playing the way we expected ourselves to play."
After Princeton's first goal in the second period, the Sun Devils finally found their footing, netting consecutive goals by the stars of the game, Benekou and Rogge, to take a 5-3 lead.
"In the middle two quarters, we really controlled the game like we should," Clapper said.
Benekou and Rogge were not done there, each adding a goal before the half ended. Maud Koopman scored with just under two minutes to go to give the Sun Devils a 8-4 lead heading into the break.
The Sun Devils came out firing after halftime, posting five unanswered goals in the third period. After Princeton scored first in the third period, Mihailovic responded with a goal of her own to start the string of unanswered goals.
Rogge and Koopman then scored consecutive unassisted goals, followed by a score from P.J. Allin. Kayla Casas joined in on the scoring action as well — as she netted a goal with 2:03 remaining in the third to give ASU a 13-5 lead.
Mihailovic placed a shot in the back of the net in the fourth quarter for her second goal of the game, and ASU's only goal of a low-scoring fourth quarter.
"They are still growing, but I'm really happy with what they did," Clapper said of his squad. "Considering everything they did, they did a really good job. I'm pleased with the result and what we were able to accomplish."
The ASU Cross Conference Challenge rolls on tomorrow with all games taking place at the Sun Devil Fitness Center. The second game of the day will feature the No. 5 Sun Devils' matchup against No. 6 Hawaii at 11 a.m. The fifth and final match of the day is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., and will pit ASU against No. 21 Loyola Marymount.
The ASU Cross Conference Challenge concludes on Sunday, returning to Mona Plummer Aquatic Center for four matches. The Sun Devils will only compete in one match, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. against No. 16 UC San Diego.
Goals: Rogge (4), Koopman (3), Benekou (3), Mihailovic (2), Casas, Allin
Assists: Mihailovic
Steals: Koopman (4), Casas (3), Huck, Simko, Degraff
Saves: Ehinger (4), Rycraw (2), Burgess
Arizona State (4-0) netted a season-high 14 goals on the day to secure the victory over the Tigers (0-1). Four Sun Devils recorded a multi-goal performance on the day, led by sophomore Bente Rogge, who scored a game-high four goals on only six shots. In addition, senior Alkistis Benekou and junior Maud Koopman each recorded hat tricks, while senior attacker Lena Mihailovic posted two goals in her first action this season.
It took Benekou just over a minute into the first quarter to open up the scoring for the Sun Devils on the day, continuing her impressive start to the 2018 campaign. Benekou now boasts a team-high 12 goals on the season after her three-goal performance, posting a multi-goal outing in all four games of the season.
Princeton responded after Benekou's goal in the first quarter with two goals of its own, taking a 2-1 lead over the Sun Devils. ASU would not trail for long, thanks to Rogge and Koopman then netting consecutive goals to give ASU a 3-2 lead.
Princeton struck first offensively in the second quarter, scoring the first goal of the period to tie the game at 3-3.
"The first quarter and a half we weren't playing well together," said ASU head coach Todd Clapper. "We were playing OK and had some bright moments, but weren't really playing the way we expected ourselves to play."
After Princeton's first goal in the second period, the Sun Devils finally found their footing, netting consecutive goals by the stars of the game, Benekou and Rogge, to take a 5-3 lead.
"In the middle two quarters, we really controlled the game like we should," Clapper said.
Benekou and Rogge were not done there, each adding a goal before the half ended. Maud Koopman scored with just under two minutes to go to give the Sun Devils a 8-4 lead heading into the break.
The Sun Devils came out firing after halftime, posting five unanswered goals in the third period. After Princeton scored first in the third period, Mihailovic responded with a goal of her own to start the string of unanswered goals.
Rogge and Koopman then scored consecutive unassisted goals, followed by a score from P.J. Allin. Kayla Casas joined in on the scoring action as well — as she netted a goal with 2:03 remaining in the third to give ASU a 13-5 lead.
Mihailovic placed a shot in the back of the net in the fourth quarter for her second goal of the game, and ASU's only goal of a low-scoring fourth quarter.
"They are still growing, but I'm really happy with what they did," Clapper said of his squad. "Considering everything they did, they did a really good job. I'm pleased with the result and what we were able to accomplish."
The ASU Cross Conference Challenge rolls on tomorrow with all games taking place at the Sun Devil Fitness Center. The second game of the day will feature the No. 5 Sun Devils' matchup against No. 6 Hawaii at 11 a.m. The fifth and final match of the day is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., and will pit ASU against No. 21 Loyola Marymount.
The ASU Cross Conference Challenge concludes on Sunday, returning to Mona Plummer Aquatic Center for four matches. The Sun Devils will only compete in one match, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. against No. 16 UC San Diego.
Goals: Rogge (4), Koopman (3), Benekou (3), Mihailovic (2), Casas, Allin
Assists: Mihailovic
Steals: Koopman (4), Casas (3), Huck, Simko, Degraff
Saves: Ehinger (4), Rycraw (2), Burgess