TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 6 Arizona State Water Polo team will take on their second consecutive Top-Five MPSF opponent this Saturday, March 24th when the Sun Devils face No. 3 USC at 1:00 P.M. MST at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
It will be a special occasion, as the Arizona State Water Polo program will honor a decorated and impactful senior class, as it is their final home match of the season. Individuals being honored include Alkistis Benekou, Taylor Bertrand, Kayla Casas, Lena Mihailovic, and Mia Rycraw. A pre-match ceremony will be conducted after the lineups are announced in which seniors, accompanied by their friends and family, will be recognized for their accomplishments in Tempe. Notable individual contributions and highlights for the five-member senior class have been compiled and can be found later in the release.
This past weekend, the Sun Devils (14-5) once again proved they can compete with anyone in the country. The match was tied at halftime and through three periods when ASU hosted No. 1 California last Saturday. The Sun Devils would eventually come up short in the hard-fought battle. Mia Rycraw put together yet another double-digit save performances, finishing the contest with 12 saves. Maud Koopman opened the scoring for the Sun Devils and provided them a 1-0 lead when she beat the goaltender with a beautifully-placed shot in the corner of the net. Later in the match, Julia Reyes and Kayla Casas would each tally a goal to spark the ASU comeback and re-tie the match at three. The Golden Bears would score three unanswered goals in the final period to earn the victory.
As per usual, facing stiff MPSF competition is a weekly occurrence. The Sun Devils now turn around and host another national powerhouse in the form of the No. 3 Trojans. Arizona State has defeated a Top-Three USC squad twice, most recently capturing a 10-9 sudden victory win over the No. 2 Trojans at the 2014 MPSF Championships. In the first meeting between the two teams, Julia Reyes had a career day as the junior recorded her first hat trick as a Sun Devil. The Trojans would get the better of the Sun Devils, defeating ASU 8-6 in the match played at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational in Irvine.
USC (13-1, 0-0) are winners of three straight, defeating No. 5 Hawaii twice as well as No. 7 UC Irvine. This will represent the MPSF opener for the Trojans, who take on No. 15 Princeton on Thursday before traveling to Tempe. The Trojans are coached by Jovan Vavic, who serves as the head coach of both the USC men's and women's teams. The 13-time National Coach of the Year has been with the USC women's program since its inception in 1995. The Trojans currently lead the conference in goals against average, holding opponents to an average of 3.93 goals a game. Offensively, USC is led by freshman Paige Hauschild, who leads the MPSF with 2.57 goals/game. In net, the Trojans boast a two-headed monster with Victoria Chamorro and Amanda Longan splitting playing time. Continue reading below for notes and an in-depth breakdown on the season to this point.
The Sun Devils will take on USC on Saturday, March 24th at 1:00 P.M. at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. As previously mentioned, the five-member senior class will be honored in a pre-match ceremony beginning immediately after lineups are announced. Join us this weekend as admission is free. Fans can follow the match live by tuning into the ASU Live Stream (http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university-2) or by accessing live stats via thefosh.net.
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SENIOR CLASS HIGHLIGHTS:
The Sun Devil Senior Class has contributed unprecedented success. Here are a few of the notable accomplishments over the past four years:
INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS:
Alkistis Benekou, R-Sr. (Athens, Greece)
Taylor Bertrand, Sr. (San Diego, Calif.)
Kayla Casas, Sr. (Downey, Calif.)
Lena Mihailovic, Sr. (Belgrade, Serbia)
SUN DEVIL WATER POLO COMPLETES ASU INVITATIONAL AT 3-0
The No. 6 Sun Devil Water Polo team took advantage of a rare opportunity to host their second tournament of the season at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. Arizona State went 3-0 on Saturday, picking up victories over No. 13 Indiana, No. 25 Fresno State, and 2017 NCAA Tournament Participant Pomona-Pitzer. The pair of victories over CWPA Top 25 teams gives ASU 12 wins against teams currently ranked in the CWPA Top 25. ASU outscored their opponents 41-11 over three matches, led offensively by Rosie Huck (9 goals), Alkistis Benekou (7 goals), Amira Van Buren (6 goals), and Lena Mihailovic (6 goals). Goalie Mia Rycrawwas sharp in net all weekend, anchoring a Sun Devil defense that allowed just 11 goals in three games. The senior goalkeeper finished the Invitational with 29 saves in just eight periods of play, including a season-best 16 saves in the victory over No. 13 Indiana. The Sun Devils defeated No. 25 Fresno State, 14-3, with the 11-goal margin of victory representing a season-high. Rosie Huck put forth her first five-goal effort while Amira Van Buren recorded her first career hat trick.
DEVILS TAKE SIXTH AT PRESTIGIOUS IN IRVINE AT PRESTIGIOUS BARBARA KALBUS INVITATIONAL
In a tournament that featured the top-nine teams in the CWPA Top 25, the Sun Devils managed to earn sixth place through picking up a pair of victories over Top 15 squads in No. 15 UCSD and Invitational host No. 7 UC Irvine. It was the second time the Sun Devils have defeated the Tritons and Anteaters this season. In the Invitational Opener the Sun Devils put forth a tremendous defense effort, holding the Tritons to three goals which matches the least amount of goals allowed by the team this season. Goalie Mia Rycraw was brilliant all afternoon, as the MPSF's leader in saves (122) had 13 in total during the dominating outing. In the first game on Saturday, ASU fell to No. 3 USC in a closely contested battle, 8-6. Julia Reyes put together a career performance, as the junior recorded her second career hat trick to pace the Sun Devil offensive attack. The Arizona State (10-3) defense held a potent USC offense to a their third-lowest goal total of their season. Mia Rycraw finished with 12 saves, her second consecutive double-digit save effort and her fifth on the season. In the second match of the day, the Sun Devils took down tournament host No. 7 UC Irvine, 9-6. With the victory, the Arizona State (11-3) advanced to the Invitational fifth place game. The victory gives the Sun Devils 11 wins, all of which have come against CWPA Top-25 competition. In the fifth-place match on Sunday, Maud Koopman was outstanding for the ASU offense, recording her fifth hat trick of the season and third multi-goal game of the invitational. Also contributing offensively were Kayla Casas and Bente Rogge, who both put together multi-goal performances. Additionally, freshman Amira Van Buren scored her first career goal in the midst of an attempted Sun Devil comeback.
ASU CAPTURES THIRD PLACE AT UCSD TRITON INVITATIONAL
The No. 6 Arizona State Water Polo team wrapped up the UCSD Triton Invitational at 3-1, capturing third place with a pair of victories over Top-10 teams. During day one in San Diego, the Sun Devils earned a berth in the Invitational semifinals with a pair of victories. First, the Sun Devils were powered by an extremely balanced attack, which has become an identity for the Sun Devils offense. Four different Sun Devils managed to record multi-goal performances, including the first career occurrence for Meghan Beaudet. In their second game of the day on Saturday, the Sun Devils took down No. 10 UC Davis. Arizona State captured their seventh victory over a team ranked in the CWPA Top-25. Lead by a dominant second period in which the Sun Devils outscored the Aggies 6-0, Arizona State used a career day from Julia Reyes (3 goals) to defeat the Aggies.
On Sunday, the Sun Devils fell for just the second time this season in a closely contested battle to No. 4 UCLA in the Invitational semifinals. Both losses on the campaign for the Sun Devils have come at the hands of teams ranked in the Top-5. Arizona State would bounce back in a big way in their second match of the day, defeating No. 7 UC Irvine for their third victory over a Top-10 team on the season. In a reversal of fortune from the match earlier in the day against UCLA, it would be the Sun Devils beating the clock and scoring the game winning goal with under ten seconds left. Alkistis Benekou came through with the game winning goal on the final possession, beating the goalie with just two seconds left to push ASU ahead, 8-7.
ASU CROSS CONFERENCE CHALLENGE RECAP
No. 5 Arizona State hosted the ASU Cross Conference Challenge from 1/20-1/22, playing four games over three days. In the home opener on Friday, the Sun Devils took care of business defeating No. 20 Princeton. ASU netted a season-high 14 goals, with four Sun Devils recording multi-goal performances. Bente Rogge would tally four goals while Maud Koopman would record her first of three hat tricks on the weekend. After suffering their first defeat on the season to No. 6 Hawaii in the first game on Saturday, the Sun Devils bounced back in a big way. Seven different players scored a goal in an 11-3 victory over No. 21 Loyola Marymount. Mia Rycraw eclipsed the double-digit mark, accumulated 10 saves. In the final day, ASU wrapped up the ASU Cross Conference Challenge with a victory over No. 16 UCSD, host of the UCSD Triton Invitational. Arizona State finished with 12 goals, which was the most Tritons defense had allowed all season.
DEVILS SWEEP UCSB WINTER INVITATIONAL
In the season opener at the 2018 UCSB Winter Invitational, the Sun Devils handled Cal Baptist 12-3. Alkistis Benekou and P.J. Allin each recorded four goals in the victory. Day two of the Invitational saw the Sun Devils matched up against a pair of CWPA Top-15 teams. Three different Sun Devils put forth multi-goal performance in the victory over No. 13 Indiana. The finale of the UCSB Winter Invitational featured a Top-10 showdown that turned into a defensive battle. The Sun Devils would come out on top of the low scoring affair, defeating 2017 NCAA Tournament Participant No. 8 Michigan 5-3. Mia Rycraw was the story of the game, compiling 14 saves to keep the Sun Devils in the contest.
2018 Arizona State Water Polo Season Notes:
Rosie is Rising
All over the Map
2017: Bente Rogge, (third), Mia Rycraw (HM), Lena Mihailovic (HM)
2016: Ao Gao (first), Mia Rycraw (first), Abbey Kerth (HM), Maud Koopman (HM)
2015: Izabella Chiappini (third), E.B. Keeve (HM), Alkistis Benekou (HM)
2014: Ao Gao (second), E.B. Keeve (third), Alkistis Benekou (HM), Patra Pardi (HM)
2013: Alicia Brightwell (second), Ao Gao (second), Shannon Haas (third), E.B. Keeve (HM)
2012: Alicia Brightwell (first), Shannon Haas (third), Mariam Salloum (HM)
2011: Sarah Harris (HM), Mariam Salloum (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2010: Sarah Harris (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2009: Addison McGrath (second), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2008: Addison McGrath (first) Kelly Phelps (HM), Caylinn Wallace (HM)
2007: Addison McGrath (HM)
2006: Rowie Webster (third)
2004: Katie Davis (HM)
2017 ACWPC Academic All-Americans:
As is typical with the women's water polo program, they enjoyed as much success outside of the pool as they did in it. A total of eight Arizona State Women's Water Polo student-athletes earned recognition by the ACWPC in the 2017 Women's All-Academic Awards. Maud Koopman, P.J. Allin and Rosie Huck were awarded Outstanding honors, which require a GPA of above a 3.70. Lena Mihailovic was honored by the ACWPC for the third time in her career, earning Superior honors in 2017, after receiving Outstanding honors her previous year. Also receiving Superior honors, which requires a G.P.A. above 3.40, is freshman Bente Rogge. Sophia Burgess and Catherine Simko were awarded with Excellent honors, requiring a GPA at or above a 3.20. Maud Koopman was recognized by CoSIDA for her work in the classroom, awarding her with Academic All-District honors.
The following is a position-by-position preview of the 2018 roster:
GOALKEEPERS
Now entering her senior season, Mia Rycraw has already established herself as one of the most decorated goalies in school history. The 2017 ACWPC honorable mention All-American comes off a season where she anchored a stingy Sun Devil defense. After accounting for 202 saves on the year, which tied USC's Amanda Logan as the most of anyone in the league, Rycraw earned All-MPSF First Team honors. The defense returns veterans and adds newcomers to a group that allowed just 169 goals on the year to finish the season with a 6.26 goals against average, a mark that ranked fourth in the MPSF.
Rycraw looks to build off her time this summer with USA Women's Water Polo program. She was a member of the United States roster for the World University Games in Taipei. The U.S. team captured the Gold medal at the games, with Rycraw seeing time at goalie and recording a save in the victory over Hungary.
Arizona State boast unprecedented depth behind Rycraw, with a solid mixture of experience and youth. Both Ellie Karl and Sophia Burgess enter their junior season hungry to compete for more playing time. Karl saw action in Arizona State's victory over La Verne, finishing with five saves, giving Sun Devil fans a glimpse of her enormous potential. Burgess also gained valuable experience last season with several appearances in relief, including a four-save effort in a victory over Sonoma State. Freshman Belen Ehinger comes to ASU after an extremely successful prep career in Florida. Ehinger looks to learn and gain knowledge from the veterans at her position as she adds an element of youth to the position.
CENTERS
The Sun Devils are once again strong down the middle of the pool with a talented group of centers. Led by veterans Alkistis Benekou and Rosie Huck, this group is essential to maintaining a balanced attack for the Sun Devil offense.
Benekou, the former All-American as a freshman, has made a significant impact since returning to the team after a brief stint training and competing in the Olympics for Greece. With 143 career goals coming into the season, Benekou now sits in sixth place in school history. Last season, Benekou tied her own school record with a seven-goal outburst in a 17-3 victory over La Verne. Benekou has reached the 40-goal plateau in each of her three seasons in Tempe.
Benekou will have plenty of help at the center position, represented by fellow returner Rosie Huck. Huck broke out onto the scene last season, tallying 14 goals on the year. Huck developed into another reliable scoring option for the Sun Devils, recording two hat-tricks on last season, one against Bucknell on at the Wolverine Invitational and the other coming in a 11-3 victory over No. 15 San Jose State. Huck competed internationally during the off season with British women's water polo National Team at the World University Games. While at the tournament, she faced some of the world's most talented athletes, including fellow Sun Devil Mia Rycraw and former Sun Devil Daisy Carter. Huck returned to the English squad after previously winning the 2017 EU Nations Cup Senior championship.
The Sun Devils also add talented center prospect Meghan Beaudet, adding some youth to a veteran-laden position group. Beaudet competed for Duke City Aquatics Water Polo club team, earning club MVP honors for five consecutive seasons. She gained national team experience after being selected to the 2016 Olympic Development Program Girl's Youth National Team. Beaudet had an outstanding prep career at Volcano Vista High School, earning first team All-State recognition as a center in three straight seasons.
ATTACKERS
Arizona State's offensive attack will feature versatility, experience, and athleticism. After an outstanding campaign last season, senior Lena Mihailovic looks to build on the confidence she gained. After combining for 55 total goals over her first two season, Mihailovic finished with 45 goals in 27 games last year leading to 2017 ACWPC All-American honorable mention honors. The second team All-MPSF performer led the team with nine three-plus goal outings on the year. This summer, she competed as a member of the Team Australia national team, the Aussie Stingers, at the 17th FINA World Championships.
Junior Maud Koopman gives the Sun Devils another talented scoring option. Koopman finished with an incredible 41 goals in her sophomore season, building off a 39-goal rookie campaign. Koopman led the team with 13 multi-goal performances, including a pair of five goal performances over the first four games of the season. She spent the summer gaining experience while competing for the bronze-winning Netherlands World Junior National Team in the FINA World Junior Water Polo Championships. Koopman totaled six goals for the Dutch squad in six tournament games.
Juniors P.J. Allin and Julia Reyes continue to improve throughout their time in Tempe. Both attackers should she increased playing time filling scoring roles left by graduate departures. Allin returns to Tempe after spending the summer competing for the Canadian Women's Junior National Team. Tallied 15 goals on the season in her second year at Arizona State, including recording a career-high three goals on Feb. 11 against UC Davis at the Triton Invitational. Julia Reyes also looks to take advantage of playing time opportunities. Reyes has compiled eight goals so far during her two-year career at ASU. Last season, Reyes made an impact in the match against CSU East Bay, scoring a pair of goals in the Sun Devils 12-5 victory.
Redshirt freshman Cassidy Degraff and freshman Layla Waters represent a bright future at the position for the Sun Devils. Degraff looks to make an impact and crack the lineup after redshirting last season. Meanwhile, Waters comes to ASU after spending four years as a member of the varsity water polo team at Sacred Heart Prep, the final two of which she was named team captain. She helped lead Sacred Heart to four consecutive Central Coast section titles along with a pair of WCAL titles. Received All-West Catholic Athletic League and Central Coast Section first team honors in each of her final three years of high school.
DEFENDERS
Although only two athletes are listed as defenders, expect it to be a team effort on the defense end thanks to the versatility offered by the utility and center position groups. A pair of sophomores represent the two defenders who will be crucial to the success of the Sun Devil's season.
Coming off an incredible freshman campaign where she broke out onto the national scene, Bente Rogge will be key to maintaining the balance that has led to the recent unprecedented success. Rogge had the opportunity to compete as a member of the Dutch National Team at the 12th FINA World Junior Championships. A teammate of fellow current Sun Devil Maud Koopman during the championship, the Dutch team captured the bronze medal with Rogge finishing the tournament with nine goals. Made an instant impact in Tempe, tallying 30 goals in just 26 games as a freshman.
Redshirt sophomore Catherine Simko looks to increase her contributions on the defensive side. After redshirting her first season in Tempe, Simko found her way in the lineup frequently as a reserve last year. Simko finished the campaign with eight goals on the season and provided consistently tough defense, while facing some of the country's highest-powered offenses. She recorded a pair of multi-goal games on the season.
UTILITY
The Utility position group is led by returning senior Kayla Casas, who has been a steadying force for the water polo program throughout her time in Tempe. Casas provides the Sun Devils lineup with consistency and versatility, giving Coach Clapper multiple lineup options. Casas has reached the double-figure goal plateau in each of her previous three seasons as a Sun Devil, culminating with a career-high 14-goal campaign last year. Among her three multi-goal performances on the year, the most clutch of them all was a two-goal effort in a victory over then ranked No. 6 UC Irvine.
Supporting Casas at the position are a pair of freshman that offer a glimpse into the future of how the Sun Devils roster will be constructed in the future. Amira Van Buren was a standout in the pool for Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, Calif. A member of her high school's varsity water polo and swim teams beginning in 2013, Van Buren helped her squad make back-to-back playoff appearances. Van Buren claimed first team All CIF honors following her junior season in 2015 after earning third team All CIF recognition in 2014.
Kate Cassidy comes to ASU after a record-setting prep career in Florida. She was named Palm Beach Player of the Year in all four of her high school seasons. Last season Cassidy helped lead Saint Andrew's School to the state quarterfinals, where they fell to Lake Nona. She finished her senior season with 97 goals, 66 Steals, 47 assists and earned 37 kick outs. Currently holds her high school record with 16 goals in a game against Hagerty and holds two other school records for most steals in a game (11) and goals in a season with 117. Completed her junior season with an eye popping 93 goals on 133 attempts, while adding five assists and 50 steals. Following the regular season Cassidy attended the US Junior National Team Selection camp. During her senior season, Cassidy served as the senior team captain for both her swim and water polo teams.
It will be a special occasion, as the Arizona State Water Polo program will honor a decorated and impactful senior class, as it is their final home match of the season. Individuals being honored include Alkistis Benekou, Taylor Bertrand, Kayla Casas, Lena Mihailovic, and Mia Rycraw. A pre-match ceremony will be conducted after the lineups are announced in which seniors, accompanied by their friends and family, will be recognized for their accomplishments in Tempe. Notable individual contributions and highlights for the five-member senior class have been compiled and can be found later in the release.
This past weekend, the Sun Devils (14-5) once again proved they can compete with anyone in the country. The match was tied at halftime and through three periods when ASU hosted No. 1 California last Saturday. The Sun Devils would eventually come up short in the hard-fought battle. Mia Rycraw put together yet another double-digit save performances, finishing the contest with 12 saves. Maud Koopman opened the scoring for the Sun Devils and provided them a 1-0 lead when she beat the goaltender with a beautifully-placed shot in the corner of the net. Later in the match, Julia Reyes and Kayla Casas would each tally a goal to spark the ASU comeback and re-tie the match at three. The Golden Bears would score three unanswered goals in the final period to earn the victory.
As per usual, facing stiff MPSF competition is a weekly occurrence. The Sun Devils now turn around and host another national powerhouse in the form of the No. 3 Trojans. Arizona State has defeated a Top-Three USC squad twice, most recently capturing a 10-9 sudden victory win over the No. 2 Trojans at the 2014 MPSF Championships. In the first meeting between the two teams, Julia Reyes had a career day as the junior recorded her first hat trick as a Sun Devil. The Trojans would get the better of the Sun Devils, defeating ASU 8-6 in the match played at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational in Irvine.
USC (13-1, 0-0) are winners of three straight, defeating No. 5 Hawaii twice as well as No. 7 UC Irvine. This will represent the MPSF opener for the Trojans, who take on No. 15 Princeton on Thursday before traveling to Tempe. The Trojans are coached by Jovan Vavic, who serves as the head coach of both the USC men's and women's teams. The 13-time National Coach of the Year has been with the USC women's program since its inception in 1995. The Trojans currently lead the conference in goals against average, holding opponents to an average of 3.93 goals a game. Offensively, USC is led by freshman Paige Hauschild, who leads the MPSF with 2.57 goals/game. In net, the Trojans boast a two-headed monster with Victoria Chamorro and Amanda Longan splitting playing time. Continue reading below for notes and an in-depth breakdown on the season to this point.
The Sun Devils will take on USC on Saturday, March 24th at 1:00 P.M. at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. As previously mentioned, the five-member senior class will be honored in a pre-match ceremony beginning immediately after lineups are announced. Join us this weekend as admission is free. Fans can follow the match live by tuning into the ASU Live Stream (http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university-2) or by accessing live stats via thefosh.net.
Join the conversation all season
Twitter: @SunDevilWP | Facebook: Sun Devil Water Polo | Instagram: @SunDevilWaterPolo
SENIOR CLASS HIGHLIGHTS:
The Sun Devil Senior Class has contributed unprecedented success. Here are a few of the notable accomplishments over the past four years:
- 69-28 record
- 25-8 home record
- Never ranked outside CWPA Top-10
- 2016 NCAA Tournament Fifth Place Finish
INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS:
Alkistis Benekou, R-Sr. (Athens, Greece)
- Compiled 174 goals so far during her four-year career, representing the third most goals in a career by a Sun Devil.
- Enjoyed a 56-goal freshman campaign which is good enough for the second most goals by a Sun Devil during her freshman season and the eighth (Rowie Webster, 63).
- Alkistits Benekou has been a member of the Greek national team for several years, skipping the 2015-16 NCAA season due to her participation in the Olympics representing Greece.
- Owner of two other 40-goal seasons, finishing with 41 goals as in 2015 and totaling 46 goals after returning from the Olympics where she was a member of the Greek National team.
- Received ACWPC All-American Honorable Mention honors after her Freshman & Sophomore seasons.
- Tied the single-game school record for goals twice, scoring seven goals against La Verne (3/2/17) and Azusa Pacific (1/24/15)
Taylor Bertrand, Sr. (San Diego, Calif.)
- Compiled 34 goals over her three-year career in Tempe.
- Built on a terrific freshman season by scoring 16 goals as a sophomore, including a three-goal game against CSU East Bay (2/13/16).
- Completed her freshman campaign with nine goals, scoring a career-high three goals in a single-game against CSU Bakersfield on March 7.
- One of only two freshmen to score at least three goals in a single game in 2015.
Kayla Casas, Sr. (Downey, Calif.)
- Throughout her four-year career at Arizona State, she has accounted for 52 goals, 50 assists, and 47 steals.
- Stepped up and made a leap in her level of play as a senior, already a career high 16 goals to go with 13 assists and 18 steals.
- Displayed her versatility throughout her sophomore season, scoring 10 goals while dishing out 10 assists, but it was her defense that shined as she finished that year with 18 steals.
- Burst onto the scene with a consistent freshman year, totaling 12 goals, 15 assists, and 11 steals.
Lena Mihailovic, Sr. (Belgrade, Serbia)
- Currently sits at 122 goals which is good enough for 10th all-time in school history.
- competed internationally for Australia at the 17th FINA World Championships in Budapest and was a teammate of former Sun Devil Rowie Webster (Australia) and opponent of former Arizona State standout Kelsey White (South Africa).
- Contributed 44 assists, and 63 steals so far throughout her four-year career as a Sun Devil.
- Thrived in an expanded role as a junior, setting a season-high with 45 goals.
- Finished with a team-high nine three-plus goal performances in 2017.
- Selected as a Second Team All-MPSF performer and received ACWPC 2017 All-American honorable mention honors after an outstanding junior season.
- Tied her a career-high of five goals against CSU Bakersfield (3/19/17).
- Received 2017 ACWPC Academic All-American honors (Superior distinction).
- Notched a season-high four goals at this season's ASU Invitational (3/10) against No. 25 Fresno State.
- Posted a career-high five goals twice, the first coming against #22 Cal Baptist (3/19/16), reaching the mark later in her career against CSU Bakersfield (3/19/17).
- Appeared in all 26 games for the Sun Devils as a freshman, finishing fourth on the team in goals posting 24, adding 17 assists and 16 steals. Culminated in All-MSPF Newcomer Team honors.
- Will complete her Sun Devil career as one of the most decorated goaltenders in school history.
- Continues to move up the career saves charts at Arizona State, now sitting at 763 career saves, which is good enough for third in school history right behind former Sun Devil great E.B. Keeve (2013-15), who finished her career second in school history with 936 saves.
- Finished with a career-high 20 saves in the team's fifth-place victory at NCAA Championships.
- Her 2015 campaign was one to remember, as she recorded 313 saves, the third-highest single season total in school history.
- Represented the United States at the 2017 World University Games, helping the red, white and blue go 8-0 on their way to the gold medal.
- Responsible for three of the top-five single-game save totals in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation during the 2017 season, including an 18-save outing against Cal Irvine.
- Notched All-MPSF First Team honors in 2017, anchoring a Sun Devil defense that allowed just 169 goals on the year to finish the season with a 6.26-goals against average, a mark that ranked fourth in the MPSF.
- The 48 shots and 20 saves at the time were good for the second-best total in NCAA Tournament history, earning her All-Tournament honors.
- Helped the Sun Devils to 5.31 goals allowed per game average in 2016, setting a new school record.
- Averaged 11.52 saves per game as a sophomore, the fourth most saves/game in a single season in school history.
SUN DEVIL WATER POLO COMPLETES ASU INVITATIONAL AT 3-0
The No. 6 Sun Devil Water Polo team took advantage of a rare opportunity to host their second tournament of the season at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. Arizona State went 3-0 on Saturday, picking up victories over No. 13 Indiana, No. 25 Fresno State, and 2017 NCAA Tournament Participant Pomona-Pitzer. The pair of victories over CWPA Top 25 teams gives ASU 12 wins against teams currently ranked in the CWPA Top 25. ASU outscored their opponents 41-11 over three matches, led offensively by Rosie Huck (9 goals), Alkistis Benekou (7 goals), Amira Van Buren (6 goals), and Lena Mihailovic (6 goals). Goalie Mia Rycrawwas sharp in net all weekend, anchoring a Sun Devil defense that allowed just 11 goals in three games. The senior goalkeeper finished the Invitational with 29 saves in just eight periods of play, including a season-best 16 saves in the victory over No. 13 Indiana. The Sun Devils defeated No. 25 Fresno State, 14-3, with the 11-goal margin of victory representing a season-high. Rosie Huck put forth her first five-goal effort while Amira Van Buren recorded her first career hat trick.
DEVILS TAKE SIXTH AT PRESTIGIOUS IN IRVINE AT PRESTIGIOUS BARBARA KALBUS INVITATIONAL
In a tournament that featured the top-nine teams in the CWPA Top 25, the Sun Devils managed to earn sixth place through picking up a pair of victories over Top 15 squads in No. 15 UCSD and Invitational host No. 7 UC Irvine. It was the second time the Sun Devils have defeated the Tritons and Anteaters this season. In the Invitational Opener the Sun Devils put forth a tremendous defense effort, holding the Tritons to three goals which matches the least amount of goals allowed by the team this season. Goalie Mia Rycraw was brilliant all afternoon, as the MPSF's leader in saves (122) had 13 in total during the dominating outing. In the first game on Saturday, ASU fell to No. 3 USC in a closely contested battle, 8-6. Julia Reyes put together a career performance, as the junior recorded her second career hat trick to pace the Sun Devil offensive attack. The Arizona State (10-3) defense held a potent USC offense to a their third-lowest goal total of their season. Mia Rycraw finished with 12 saves, her second consecutive double-digit save effort and her fifth on the season. In the second match of the day, the Sun Devils took down tournament host No. 7 UC Irvine, 9-6. With the victory, the Arizona State (11-3) advanced to the Invitational fifth place game. The victory gives the Sun Devils 11 wins, all of which have come against CWPA Top-25 competition. In the fifth-place match on Sunday, Maud Koopman was outstanding for the ASU offense, recording her fifth hat trick of the season and third multi-goal game of the invitational. Also contributing offensively were Kayla Casas and Bente Rogge, who both put together multi-goal performances. Additionally, freshman Amira Van Buren scored her first career goal in the midst of an attempted Sun Devil comeback.
ASU CAPTURES THIRD PLACE AT UCSD TRITON INVITATIONAL
The No. 6 Arizona State Water Polo team wrapped up the UCSD Triton Invitational at 3-1, capturing third place with a pair of victories over Top-10 teams. During day one in San Diego, the Sun Devils earned a berth in the Invitational semifinals with a pair of victories. First, the Sun Devils were powered by an extremely balanced attack, which has become an identity for the Sun Devils offense. Four different Sun Devils managed to record multi-goal performances, including the first career occurrence for Meghan Beaudet. In their second game of the day on Saturday, the Sun Devils took down No. 10 UC Davis. Arizona State captured their seventh victory over a team ranked in the CWPA Top-25. Lead by a dominant second period in which the Sun Devils outscored the Aggies 6-0, Arizona State used a career day from Julia Reyes (3 goals) to defeat the Aggies.
On Sunday, the Sun Devils fell for just the second time this season in a closely contested battle to No. 4 UCLA in the Invitational semifinals. Both losses on the campaign for the Sun Devils have come at the hands of teams ranked in the Top-5. Arizona State would bounce back in a big way in their second match of the day, defeating No. 7 UC Irvine for their third victory over a Top-10 team on the season. In a reversal of fortune from the match earlier in the day against UCLA, it would be the Sun Devils beating the clock and scoring the game winning goal with under ten seconds left. Alkistis Benekou came through with the game winning goal on the final possession, beating the goalie with just two seconds left to push ASU ahead, 8-7.
ASU CROSS CONFERENCE CHALLENGE RECAP
No. 5 Arizona State hosted the ASU Cross Conference Challenge from 1/20-1/22, playing four games over three days. In the home opener on Friday, the Sun Devils took care of business defeating No. 20 Princeton. ASU netted a season-high 14 goals, with four Sun Devils recording multi-goal performances. Bente Rogge would tally four goals while Maud Koopman would record her first of three hat tricks on the weekend. After suffering their first defeat on the season to No. 6 Hawaii in the first game on Saturday, the Sun Devils bounced back in a big way. Seven different players scored a goal in an 11-3 victory over No. 21 Loyola Marymount. Mia Rycraw eclipsed the double-digit mark, accumulated 10 saves. In the final day, ASU wrapped up the ASU Cross Conference Challenge with a victory over No. 16 UCSD, host of the UCSD Triton Invitational. Arizona State finished with 12 goals, which was the most Tritons defense had allowed all season.
DEVILS SWEEP UCSB WINTER INVITATIONAL
In the season opener at the 2018 UCSB Winter Invitational, the Sun Devils handled Cal Baptist 12-3. Alkistis Benekou and P.J. Allin each recorded four goals in the victory. Day two of the Invitational saw the Sun Devils matched up against a pair of CWPA Top-15 teams. Three different Sun Devils put forth multi-goal performance in the victory over No. 13 Indiana. The finale of the UCSB Winter Invitational featured a Top-10 showdown that turned into a defensive battle. The Sun Devils would come out on top of the low scoring affair, defeating 2017 NCAA Tournament Participant No. 8 Michigan 5-3. Mia Rycraw was the story of the game, compiling 14 saves to keep the Sun Devils in the contest.
2018 Arizona State Water Polo Season Notes:
Rosie is Rising
- Rosie Huck dominated the ASU Invitational (March 10th), finishing the tournament with nine goals helping lead the Sun Devils to a 3-0 record.
- Despite going scoreless through the first five games of the season and totaling just four goals through the first 16 games, Huck put together back-to-back four goal performances to cap the ASU Invitational.
- After totaling 19 goals over 56 games in her first two years on campus, P.J. Allin has compiled 12 goals in just 19 games on the season thus far.
- Allin recorded a career-high four goals against Cal Baptist (1/20), the second hat trick of her career.
- Notched a multi-goal game against No. 21 LMU (2/3) and Cal State East Bay (2/10), giving her three multi-goal performances this season.
- Alkistis Benekou has been a steady force for the Sun Devil offense during the 2018 campaign, tallying 31 goals through 19 games (1.63 goals/game).
- Benekou carried a heavy load at the 2018 UCSB Winter Invite, as she was the only Sun Devil to record a multi-goal performance in each of the three games.
- She currently sits at 174 career goals, which is good enough for third place on the school's all-time goal scoring list.
- Her 11 multi-goal performances through 18 games are tied for the team lead.
- Mia Rycraw's has been a mainstay in net this season, leading the MPSF with 163 saves and 64 quarters played.
- Kept the Sun Devils in the match against No. 1 California (3/17/18), finishing with 12 saves, a few of which were of the highlight reel variety.
- Ryrcaw continues to move up the career saves charts at Arizona State. She now sits at 763 career saves, which is good enough for third in school history right behind former Sun Devil great E.B. Keeve (2013-15), who finished her career second in school history with 936 saves.
- Proved to be the best player in the pool in the matchup against No. 13 Indiana (3/10) the ASU Invitational, finishing with a season-high 16 saves in the 12-2 victory.
- In a tightly contested 5-3 victory over No. 8 Michigan (1/21), Rycraw looked to be in midseason form, collecting 14 saves while allowing only three goals to lead the Sun Devils to victory.
- Freshman Amira Van Buren has seen increasing playing time as the year goes on, and she rewarded the coaching staff with an outstanding performance at the ASU Invitational.
- After tallying her first career goal against No. 5 Hawaii to cap the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, Van Buren built on that momentum back in Tempe.
- Van Buren finished the ASU Invitational with six goals, including her first career multi-goal performance coming against No. 13 Indiana which she would surpass in the next match by recording her first career hat trick against No. 25 Fresno State.
- Maud Koopman leads the Sun Devils with six performances in which she has scored at least three goals.
- Picked up where she left off at the ASU Cross Conference Challenge, recording a hat trick in the in a matchup with No. 10 UC Davis (2/10).
- Her 11 multi-goal performances through 19 games are tied for the team lead.
- At the ASU Cross Conference Challenge, Maud Koopman was a dominant force. She finished the weekend with 11 goals in four games, recording a hat trick in three.
- Mihailovic has recorded a goal in 13 of 15 games this season, including seven multi-goal performances.
- She delivered her first four-goal performance of the season at the ASU Invitational when the Sun Devils defeated No. 25 Fresno State (3/10), 14-3.
- Despite missing the first three games of the at the UCSB Winter Invitational, it did not take Lena Mihailovic long to get back into a rhythm. She concluded the ASU Cross Conference Challenge with seven goals, five assists, and two steals.
- Veteran Kayla Casas is making the most of her final season in Tempe, as the senior has lead the Sun Devils on the defense end compiling 15 steals, which is tied for the most on the team.
- Not only has Casas provided a scoring punch for the Sun Devils with her 16 goals, she has also got her teammates involved by dishing out 13 assists.
- Versatile sophomore Bente Rogge has done a little bit of everything for the Sun Devils during their 14-4 start to the season, accumulating 29 goals, 15 assists and 10 steals.
- Her 11 multi-goal performances through 19 games are tied for the team lead.
- Rogge finished the UCSD Triton Invitational with three consecutive multi-goal games, tallying an assist as well in each instance.
- Rogge is coming off an outstanding freshman campaign in which she garnered ACWPC Third Team All-American honors.
- 12 of the Sun Devils 14 victories have come over teams currently ranked in the CWPA Top-25.
- ASU is outscoring opponents 101-46 in the first half of matches this season.
- The Sun Devils allowed nine goals through the first three games, the fewest since the 2009-10 team allowed just five goals over that span. ASU has allowed three goals or fewer in five matches this season.
| # | Sun Devil | Games |
| 11 | Koopman | 6 |
| 8 | Benekou | 4 |
| 12 | Rogge | 3 |
| 3 | Reyes | 2 |
| 7 | Huck | 2 |
| 4 | Van Buren | 1 |
| 2 | Allin | 1 |
All over the Map
- Several returning members of the Sun Devil water polo team earned valuable international experience competing this summer.
- Bente Rogge and Maud Koopman represented the Netherlands while P.J. Allin represented Canada at the 12th FINA World Junior Championships in Volos, Greece.
- Rosie Huck (Great Britain), Mia Rycraw (U.S.A), and former Sun Devil standout Daisy Carter (Australia) represented their countries at the 2017 World University Games (Summer Universiade).
- Lena Mihailovic (Australia) and former Sun Devils Rowie Webster (Australia) and Kelsey White (South Africa) competed internationally for Australia at the 17th FINA World Championships in Budapest.
- Alkistits Benekou has been a member of the Greek national team for several years, skipping the 2015-16 NCAA season due to her participation in the Olympics representing Greece.
- The Arizona State Water Polo program features individuals from six different countries (Sebria, Canada, Netherlands, England, Greece, and United States)
2017: Bente Rogge, (third), Mia Rycraw (HM), Lena Mihailovic (HM)
2016: Ao Gao (first), Mia Rycraw (first), Abbey Kerth (HM), Maud Koopman (HM)
2015: Izabella Chiappini (third), E.B. Keeve (HM), Alkistis Benekou (HM)
2014: Ao Gao (second), E.B. Keeve (third), Alkistis Benekou (HM), Patra Pardi (HM)
2013: Alicia Brightwell (second), Ao Gao (second), Shannon Haas (third), E.B. Keeve (HM)
2012: Alicia Brightwell (first), Shannon Haas (third), Mariam Salloum (HM)
2011: Sarah Harris (HM), Mariam Salloum (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2010: Sarah Harris (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2009: Addison McGrath (second), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2008: Addison McGrath (first) Kelly Phelps (HM), Caylinn Wallace (HM)
2007: Addison McGrath (HM)
2006: Rowie Webster (third)
2004: Katie Davis (HM)
2017 ACWPC Academic All-Americans:
| 2017 Women's All-Academic Awards Recipient | Distinction |
| Maud Koopman | Outstanding |
| P.J. Allin | Outstanding |
| Rosie Huck | Outstanding |
| Bente Rogge | Superior |
| Lena Mihailovic | Superior |
| Catherine Simko | Excellent |
| Sophia Burgess | Excellent |
As is typical with the women's water polo program, they enjoyed as much success outside of the pool as they did in it. A total of eight Arizona State Women's Water Polo student-athletes earned recognition by the ACWPC in the 2017 Women's All-Academic Awards. Maud Koopman, P.J. Allin and Rosie Huck were awarded Outstanding honors, which require a GPA of above a 3.70. Lena Mihailovic was honored by the ACWPC for the third time in her career, earning Superior honors in 2017, after receiving Outstanding honors her previous year. Also receiving Superior honors, which requires a G.P.A. above 3.40, is freshman Bente Rogge. Sophia Burgess and Catherine Simko were awarded with Excellent honors, requiring a GPA at or above a 3.20. Maud Koopman was recognized by CoSIDA for her work in the classroom, awarding her with Academic All-District honors.
The following is a position-by-position preview of the 2018 roster:
GOALKEEPERS
Now entering her senior season, Mia Rycraw has already established herself as one of the most decorated goalies in school history. The 2017 ACWPC honorable mention All-American comes off a season where she anchored a stingy Sun Devil defense. After accounting for 202 saves on the year, which tied USC's Amanda Logan as the most of anyone in the league, Rycraw earned All-MPSF First Team honors. The defense returns veterans and adds newcomers to a group that allowed just 169 goals on the year to finish the season with a 6.26 goals against average, a mark that ranked fourth in the MPSF.
Rycraw looks to build off her time this summer with USA Women's Water Polo program. She was a member of the United States roster for the World University Games in Taipei. The U.S. team captured the Gold medal at the games, with Rycraw seeing time at goalie and recording a save in the victory over Hungary.
Arizona State boast unprecedented depth behind Rycraw, with a solid mixture of experience and youth. Both Ellie Karl and Sophia Burgess enter their junior season hungry to compete for more playing time. Karl saw action in Arizona State's victory over La Verne, finishing with five saves, giving Sun Devil fans a glimpse of her enormous potential. Burgess also gained valuable experience last season with several appearances in relief, including a four-save effort in a victory over Sonoma State. Freshman Belen Ehinger comes to ASU after an extremely successful prep career in Florida. Ehinger looks to learn and gain knowledge from the veterans at her position as she adds an element of youth to the position.
CENTERS
The Sun Devils are once again strong down the middle of the pool with a talented group of centers. Led by veterans Alkistis Benekou and Rosie Huck, this group is essential to maintaining a balanced attack for the Sun Devil offense.
Benekou, the former All-American as a freshman, has made a significant impact since returning to the team after a brief stint training and competing in the Olympics for Greece. With 143 career goals coming into the season, Benekou now sits in sixth place in school history. Last season, Benekou tied her own school record with a seven-goal outburst in a 17-3 victory over La Verne. Benekou has reached the 40-goal plateau in each of her three seasons in Tempe.
Benekou will have plenty of help at the center position, represented by fellow returner Rosie Huck. Huck broke out onto the scene last season, tallying 14 goals on the year. Huck developed into another reliable scoring option for the Sun Devils, recording two hat-tricks on last season, one against Bucknell on at the Wolverine Invitational and the other coming in a 11-3 victory over No. 15 San Jose State. Huck competed internationally during the off season with British women's water polo National Team at the World University Games. While at the tournament, she faced some of the world's most talented athletes, including fellow Sun Devil Mia Rycraw and former Sun Devil Daisy Carter. Huck returned to the English squad after previously winning the 2017 EU Nations Cup Senior championship.
The Sun Devils also add talented center prospect Meghan Beaudet, adding some youth to a veteran-laden position group. Beaudet competed for Duke City Aquatics Water Polo club team, earning club MVP honors for five consecutive seasons. She gained national team experience after being selected to the 2016 Olympic Development Program Girl's Youth National Team. Beaudet had an outstanding prep career at Volcano Vista High School, earning first team All-State recognition as a center in three straight seasons.
ATTACKERS
Arizona State's offensive attack will feature versatility, experience, and athleticism. After an outstanding campaign last season, senior Lena Mihailovic looks to build on the confidence she gained. After combining for 55 total goals over her first two season, Mihailovic finished with 45 goals in 27 games last year leading to 2017 ACWPC All-American honorable mention honors. The second team All-MPSF performer led the team with nine three-plus goal outings on the year. This summer, she competed as a member of the Team Australia national team, the Aussie Stingers, at the 17th FINA World Championships.
Junior Maud Koopman gives the Sun Devils another talented scoring option. Koopman finished with an incredible 41 goals in her sophomore season, building off a 39-goal rookie campaign. Koopman led the team with 13 multi-goal performances, including a pair of five goal performances over the first four games of the season. She spent the summer gaining experience while competing for the bronze-winning Netherlands World Junior National Team in the FINA World Junior Water Polo Championships. Koopman totaled six goals for the Dutch squad in six tournament games.
Juniors P.J. Allin and Julia Reyes continue to improve throughout their time in Tempe. Both attackers should she increased playing time filling scoring roles left by graduate departures. Allin returns to Tempe after spending the summer competing for the Canadian Women's Junior National Team. Tallied 15 goals on the season in her second year at Arizona State, including recording a career-high three goals on Feb. 11 against UC Davis at the Triton Invitational. Julia Reyes also looks to take advantage of playing time opportunities. Reyes has compiled eight goals so far during her two-year career at ASU. Last season, Reyes made an impact in the match against CSU East Bay, scoring a pair of goals in the Sun Devils 12-5 victory.
Redshirt freshman Cassidy Degraff and freshman Layla Waters represent a bright future at the position for the Sun Devils. Degraff looks to make an impact and crack the lineup after redshirting last season. Meanwhile, Waters comes to ASU after spending four years as a member of the varsity water polo team at Sacred Heart Prep, the final two of which she was named team captain. She helped lead Sacred Heart to four consecutive Central Coast section titles along with a pair of WCAL titles. Received All-West Catholic Athletic League and Central Coast Section first team honors in each of her final three years of high school.
DEFENDERS
Although only two athletes are listed as defenders, expect it to be a team effort on the defense end thanks to the versatility offered by the utility and center position groups. A pair of sophomores represent the two defenders who will be crucial to the success of the Sun Devil's season.
Coming off an incredible freshman campaign where she broke out onto the national scene, Bente Rogge will be key to maintaining the balance that has led to the recent unprecedented success. Rogge had the opportunity to compete as a member of the Dutch National Team at the 12th FINA World Junior Championships. A teammate of fellow current Sun Devil Maud Koopman during the championship, the Dutch team captured the bronze medal with Rogge finishing the tournament with nine goals. Made an instant impact in Tempe, tallying 30 goals in just 26 games as a freshman.
Redshirt sophomore Catherine Simko looks to increase her contributions on the defensive side. After redshirting her first season in Tempe, Simko found her way in the lineup frequently as a reserve last year. Simko finished the campaign with eight goals on the season and provided consistently tough defense, while facing some of the country's highest-powered offenses. She recorded a pair of multi-goal games on the season.
UTILITY
The Utility position group is led by returning senior Kayla Casas, who has been a steadying force for the water polo program throughout her time in Tempe. Casas provides the Sun Devils lineup with consistency and versatility, giving Coach Clapper multiple lineup options. Casas has reached the double-figure goal plateau in each of her previous three seasons as a Sun Devil, culminating with a career-high 14-goal campaign last year. Among her three multi-goal performances on the year, the most clutch of them all was a two-goal effort in a victory over then ranked No. 6 UC Irvine.
Supporting Casas at the position are a pair of freshman that offer a glimpse into the future of how the Sun Devils roster will be constructed in the future. Amira Van Buren was a standout in the pool for Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, Calif. A member of her high school's varsity water polo and swim teams beginning in 2013, Van Buren helped her squad make back-to-back playoff appearances. Van Buren claimed first team All CIF honors following her junior season in 2015 after earning third team All CIF recognition in 2014.
Kate Cassidy comes to ASU after a record-setting prep career in Florida. She was named Palm Beach Player of the Year in all four of her high school seasons. Last season Cassidy helped lead Saint Andrew's School to the state quarterfinals, where they fell to Lake Nona. She finished her senior season with 97 goals, 66 Steals, 47 assists and earned 37 kick outs. Currently holds her high school record with 16 goals in a game against Hagerty and holds two other school records for most steals in a game (11) and goals in a season with 117. Completed her junior season with an eye popping 93 goals on 133 attempts, while adding five assists and 50 steals. Following the regular season Cassidy attended the US Junior National Team Selection camp. During her senior season, Cassidy served as the senior team captain for both her swim and water polo teams.