TEMPE – The Arizona State Women's Water Polo program announced the winners of the Sun Devil Postseason Awards over the past weekend. Five members of the team received recognition from Coach Clapper and the coaching staff after another outstanding season of Sun Devil Water Polo. Continue reading below for a comprehensive season review.
2018 SUN DEVIL WATER POLO AWARD WINNERS:
Most Improved Lifter – P.J. Allin (Junior; Victoria, British Columbia)
Allin emerged as a consistent threat at both ends of the pool. Seeing increased playing time as her role expanded, Allin developed her body to be able to withstand the grueling conference stretch that comes with competing in the MPSF.
Lifter of the Year – Alkistis Benekou (RS-Senior; Athens, Greece)
As one of the primary leaders, Benekou set the tone in the weight room leading to her selection as weight lifter of the year. Her physicality and stamina set the tone as she was a standout at the demanding center position. Benekou's relentless work ethic and determination have left a lasting impact on the Sun Devil Water Polo program.
Student of the Year – Rosie Huck (Junior; Manchester, England)
Carrying a 4.0 G.P.A. as a Geography major, Huck defines what it means to be a student-athlete. Continuing the tradition of academic success for Arizona State Water Polo, Huck set the standard in the classroom, obtaining the highest G.P.A. on the team.
Most Improved Player – Julia Reyes (Junior; Cerritos, Calif.)
After scoring eight goals over her first two seasons in Tempe, Julia Reyes took a huge step forward in her growth as a player. The junior emerged as another offensive option for the Sun Devils, finishing with 19 goals, almost doubling her goal total from the previous two seasons combined. Reyes will be a key contributor next season as ASU loses four productive seniors.
In her final season in Tempe, Mia Rycraw did not disappoint as the redshirt senior earned the program's Most Valuable Player honors. Completing her career as one of the best goaltenders in MPSF history, Rycraw finished with 200 saves for the third consecutive season. She recorded ten double-digit save performances, including a 15-save effort in the season finale victory over No. 20 San Jose State.
2018 SEASON IN REVIEW:
The Sun Devils wrapped up their regular season campaign at 16-9, the seventh consecutive season that they have reached 16 victories. 14 of those 16 victories came over teams that were ranked in the CWPA Top 25 at the time. ASU spent most of the season at No. 6 in the CWPA rankings, never falling outside the Top-Six. They finished at No. 5 in the nation in the final CWPA Top 25, tying the second highest finish in the poll in program history.
Arizona State defeated four teams that competed at the 2018 NCAA Championship. Mia Rycraw was dominant in net, leading the Sun Devils to a 5-3 victory over No. 8 Michigan (1/21), who earned an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament thanks to winning the CWPA. At the Triton Invitational, Arizona State topped No. 7 UC Irvine (2/11), who earned an automatic berth thanks to their Big West Conference title. That was the first of two victories that the Sun Devils earned over the Anteaters, as they defeated tournament host UC Irvine at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational (2/24). The 2018 squad also defeated UC San Diego, the WWPA conference champion, twice earlier in the season. They captured a 12-5 victory over the Tritons at the ASU Invitational (2/4) hosted at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The second victory over the Tritons came at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, as the Sun Devils defeated UC San Diego, 9-3. The Sun Devils handled SCIAC automatic bid recipient Pomona Pitzer at the ASU Invitational (3/10), dominating the Sagehens by a score of 15-6.
Several members of the team reached significant career milestones, as the careers of five outstanding seniors came to an end this season.
Over the past four years, the five-member senior class has accumulated:
INDIVIDUAL MILESTONES:
FOUR SUN DEVILS EARN ALL-MPSF HONORS:
Four members of the Arizona State University Water Polo team were named to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Conference Teams, as announced by the MPSF on April 26th.
Redshirt seniors Alkistis Benekou and Mia Rycraw became three-time All-MPSF honorees by taking home Second Team All-Conference distinction. Teammate sophomore Bente Rogge was also named to the Second Team, building on an All-MPSF honorable mention campaign as a freshman. The last of the four to receive an All-MPSF selection is freshman Amira Van Buren, who is one of six freshman athletes to be named to the MPSF All-Newcomer Team.
Center Alkistis Benekou has been a focal point of the Arizona State offense attack throughout the season. Her 38 goals rank her eight in the conference, including 13 multi-goal performances which ties her for the team lead. Benekou's 181 career goals over four years is currently good enough for third place on the Sun Devil's all-time leading goal scoring list. She has reached the 30-goal plateau in all four of her season in Tempe.
Goalkeeper Mia Rycraw was brilliant in net all season, finishing with an MPSF-leading 197 saves and 80 quarters played. A true number one goaltender, Rycraw thrived as the Sun Devil's main goalie throughout the season. Rycraw's impact was felt throughout the defensive unit, as her presence and athleticism represent a unique combination for the position. During her four-year career, Rycraw accumulated 814 saves, a mark that places her third on the Sun Devil's all-time career saves list. She has put together three consecutive years in which she recorded at least 200 saves, highlighted by a 313-save campaign in 2016.
The final Sun Devil named to the MPSF All-Conference Second Team was sophomore Bente Rogge. The versatile defender built off a season in which she established herself as one of the premier freshman in the nation, culminating in ACWPC Third Team All-American honors. Rogge was a force in both ends of the pool, consistently providing the Sun Devil's a steadying presence on defense. Rogge finished the regular season with 33 goals along with 17 assists, which are tied for the team lead.
Offering a glimpse into the future of MPSF Water Polo, seven student-athletes were named to the MPSF All-Newcomer Team. Freshman Amira Van Buren earned a spot on the team as one of just six freshmen to make the list. Van Buren saw action in 20 matches for the Sun Devils while competing in the toughest conference in the country. Van Buren finished the regular season with seven goals, one assist, and a pair of steals. She earned valuable experience during her first season in Tempe, participating in all five matches during MPSF play.
Six members of the Arizona State Water Polo team have been selected to the MPSF All-Academic Team as announced by the MPSF on Thursday, May 17th.
The Sun Devils placed six members on the MPSF All-Academic Team, the most since the program had six student athletes on the team in 2016. An Arizona State Water Polo student athlete has received All-Academic honors 84 times since 2006.
COACH CLAPPER'S GROWING RESUME:
Completing his 13th season in Tempe as the head coach of the Sun Devil Water Polo program, Todd Clapper continues to add accolades to an already impressive resume. Under his tutelage, the program has reached unprecedented heights. Since 2012, the Sun Devils have compiled a 141-58 (.708) record under Clapper. In that time the team earned its first victory over UCLA in program history, beat Cal on the road for the first time ever, and matched a program-best upset over No. 2 USC in 2014.
During his first few seasons in Tempe, Clapper was busy working with international teams. He served as the 2005 U.S. Junior National Team assistant coach before being selected as the 2006 U.S. Youth National coach. That year, he led the youth team into the Pan-Am Championships in Montreal, Canada. The team, which was playing up an age level, brought home gold. For his efforts he was named the 2006 USOC National Water Polo Coach of the Year. In 2008 and 2009 Clapper was the head coach of the New Zealand Women's National Team.
Individually, Clapper has continued to grow the program by bringing in some of the top talent both nationally and internationally, including three-time All-American Addison McGrath, who is the program's all-time leading goal and point scorer. He has also helped develop goalkeepers E.B. Keeve and Mia Rycraw who currently sit at No. 2 and 3, respectively, in the Sun Devil record books for career saves. Rycraw's success in 2017 led her to train with Team USA's senior national team and in 2016 Keeve helped lead her Mataro (Spain) club team to both Spanish and LEN titles. Under Clapper's leadership, 33 Sun Devils have earned All-American honors.
2018 NON-CONFERENCE RECAP:
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 PRESTIGOUS IN IRVINE AT PRESTIGOUS 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 match, compiling 14 saves to keep the Sun Devils in the contest.
2018 SUN DEVIL WATER POLO AWARD WINNERS:
Most Improved Lifter – P.J. Allin (Junior; Victoria, British Columbia)
Allin emerged as a consistent threat at both ends of the pool. Seeing increased playing time as her role expanded, Allin developed her body to be able to withstand the grueling conference stretch that comes with competing in the MPSF.
The Sun Devil Water Polo ??????? program would like to recognize our Award Winners for the 2018 season, as announced by Coach Clapper and the coaching staff.
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) May 9, 2018
To kick things off, we would like to give a shout out to P.J. Allin, who was named the Most Improved Lifter! pic.twitter.com/C0Hu6tLIN5
Lifter of the Year – Alkistis Benekou (RS-Senior; Athens, Greece)
As one of the primary leaders, Benekou set the tone in the weight room leading to her selection as weight lifter of the year. Her physicality and stamina set the tone as she was a standout at the demanding center position. Benekou's relentless work ethic and determination have left a lasting impact on the Sun Devil Water Polo program.
Next up, we honor the Lifter of the Year, Alkistis Benekou!
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) May 9, 2018
Benekou was a crucial part of the Sun Devil offense, thriving at the physical position of center. Benekou finished her career with 181 goals, the third most in school history! #SunDevilUnity pic.twitter.com/ZlQ7szcgo7
Student of the Year – Rosie Huck (Junior; Manchester, England)
Carrying a 4.0 G.P.A. as a Geography major, Huck defines what it means to be a student-athlete. Continuing the tradition of academic success for Arizona State Water Polo, Huck set the standard in the classroom, obtaining the highest G.P.A. on the team.
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— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) May 9, 2018
For our next award, we would like to recognize Rosie Huck, for her accomplishments inside and outside the pool!
The geography major takes home the Student of the Year Award, as she maintained a 4.0 G.P.A. this semester! #SunDevilUnity pic.twitter.com/TZTJHvGEPu
Most Improved Player – Julia Reyes (Junior; Cerritos, Calif.)
After scoring eight goals over her first two seasons in Tempe, Julia Reyes took a huge step forward in her growth as a player. The junior emerged as another offensive option for the Sun Devils, finishing with 19 goals, almost doubling her goal total from the previous two seasons combined. Reyes will be a key contributor next season as ASU loses four productive seniors.
MVP - Mia Rycraw (RS-Senior; Walnut, Calif.)Making the jump from sophomore contributor to junior standout, Julia Reyes is Sun Devil Water Polo's Most Improved Player for the 2018 season!
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) May 9, 2018
Reyes finished the season with 19 goals, after scoring eight goals combined during her first two season in Tempe! #SunDevilUnity pic.twitter.com/9xFLBn0oJt
In her final season in Tempe, Mia Rycraw did not disappoint as the redshirt senior earned the program's Most Valuable Player honors. Completing her career as one of the best goaltenders in MPSF history, Rycraw finished with 200 saves for the third consecutive season. She recorded ten double-digit save performances, including a 15-save effort in the season finale victory over No. 20 San Jose State.
Our final award, the Most Valuable Player award, goes to Mia Rycraw! Rycraw led the MPSF in saves and matches played.
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) May 9, 2018
The redshirt senior goalie recorded her third consecutive 200-save season, finishing her career with the third most saves (814) in school history! #SunDevilUnity pic.twitter.com/k9stk8IlgB
2018 SEASON IN REVIEW:
The Sun Devils wrapped up their regular season campaign at 16-9, the seventh consecutive season that they have reached 16 victories. 14 of those 16 victories came over teams that were ranked in the CWPA Top 25 at the time. ASU spent most of the season at No. 6 in the CWPA rankings, never falling outside the Top-Six. They finished at No. 5 in the nation in the final CWPA Top 25, tying the second highest finish in the poll in program history.
??????? finishes No. 5? in the final CWPA Top 25!#SunDevilUnity pic.twitter.com/3ao22yWaVO
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) May 22, 2018
Arizona State defeated four teams that competed at the 2018 NCAA Championship. Mia Rycraw was dominant in net, leading the Sun Devils to a 5-3 victory over No. 8 Michigan (1/21), who earned an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament thanks to winning the CWPA. At the Triton Invitational, Arizona State topped No. 7 UC Irvine (2/11), who earned an automatic berth thanks to their Big West Conference title. That was the first of two victories that the Sun Devils earned over the Anteaters, as they defeated tournament host UC Irvine at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational (2/24). The 2018 squad also defeated UC San Diego, the WWPA conference champion, twice earlier in the season. They captured a 12-5 victory over the Tritons at the ASU Invitational (2/4) hosted at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The second victory over the Tritons came at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, as the Sun Devils defeated UC San Diego, 9-3. The Sun Devils handled SCIAC automatic bid recipient Pomona Pitzer at the ASU Invitational (3/10), dominating the Sagehens by a score of 15-6.
Several members of the team reached significant career milestones, as the careers of five outstanding seniors came to an end this season.
Over the past four years, the five-member senior class has accumulated:
- 73-32 overall record
- 25-9 home record
- Never ranked outside the CWPA Top-10
- 2016 NCAA Tournament Fifth Place Finish (Tied for the best finish in school history)
???Coach Clapper shared his thoughts over the weekend on what the 2018 Senior Class ???????means to him personally and the impact they have had on the program#SunDevilUnity #SunDevilsForLife pic.twitter.com/8QSiM7ubiB
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) March 26, 2018
INDIVIDUAL MILESTONES:
- Redshirt senior goalkeeper Mia Rycraw recently eclipsed the 800-save mark for her career, completing her third consecutive 200-save season. Rycraw now sits at 814 saves, the third most for a career in Sun Devil history. She reached the 800-save plateau in style, dominating No. 20 San Jose State at the MPSF Championships while recording 14 saves. Rycraw became the third Sun Devil goaltender and just the 15th member of the MPSF's 800-save club.
ICYMI
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) May 1, 2018
Congratulations to Mia Rycraw for becoming just the third Sun Devil goaltender to reach the 8?0?0?career saves mark, accomplishing the feat thanks to a 15-save performance this past weekend! #SunDevilUnity pic.twitter.com/WuuDQ12ifl
- Redshirt senior Alkistis Benekou continued to climb up the Sun Devil's all-time goals scored list, finishing her final campaign in Tempe with 38 goals. Benekou put together four consecutive 30-goal season, finishing her career with 181 goals. The 181 goals are the third most for a career in school history. Benekou never failed to reach at least 38 goals in a season during her Sun Devil career.
- Lena Mihailovic capped a fantastic four-year career as a Sun Devil with a brilliant senior season. Despite missing the first three matches of the season, she scored 31 goals in 2018. Mihailovic finished with 131 career goals, entering the Top-10 in school history, completing her career ninth on the Sun Devil's all-time goals scored list. She saved her best performance for the last match of the season, tying a career-high with five goals in a victory over San Jose State at the MPSF Championship.
- Building off a pair of spectacular seasons to begin her career in Tempe, Maud Koopman was special once again for the Sun Devils. With 42 goals in 2018, Koopman has registered back-to-back 40-goal campaigns. In just three seasons as a Sun Devil, Koopman has 122 goals scored, placing her six away from cracking the Top-10 in school history for goal scored. Koopman returns as the Sun Devils main offensive weapon, looking to take on more of a leadership role.
3?0?-goal club ?????????
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) April 10, 2018
Arizona State boasts 3? of the top ?? goal scorers in the MPSF! pic.twitter.com/f2XqolQvct
FOUR SUN DEVILS EARN ALL-MPSF HONORS:
Four members of the Arizona State University Water Polo team were named to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Conference Teams, as announced by the MPSF on April 26th.
Redshirt seniors Alkistis Benekou and Mia Rycraw became three-time All-MPSF honorees by taking home Second Team All-Conference distinction. Teammate sophomore Bente Rogge was also named to the Second Team, building on an All-MPSF honorable mention campaign as a freshman. The last of the four to receive an All-MPSF selection is freshman Amira Van Buren, who is one of six freshman athletes to be named to the MPSF All-Newcomer Team.
Center Alkistis Benekou has been a focal point of the Arizona State offense attack throughout the season. Her 38 goals rank her eight in the conference, including 13 multi-goal performances which ties her for the team lead. Benekou's 181 career goals over four years is currently good enough for third place on the Sun Devil's all-time leading goal scoring list. She has reached the 30-goal plateau in all four of her season in Tempe.
Goalkeeper Mia Rycraw was brilliant in net all season, finishing with an MPSF-leading 197 saves and 80 quarters played. A true number one goaltender, Rycraw thrived as the Sun Devil's main goalie throughout the season. Rycraw's impact was felt throughout the defensive unit, as her presence and athleticism represent a unique combination for the position. During her four-year career, Rycraw accumulated 814 saves, a mark that places her third on the Sun Devil's all-time career saves list. She has put together three consecutive years in which she recorded at least 200 saves, highlighted by a 313-save campaign in 2016.
The final Sun Devil named to the MPSF All-Conference Second Team was sophomore Bente Rogge. The versatile defender built off a season in which she established herself as one of the premier freshman in the nation, culminating in ACWPC Third Team All-American honors. Rogge was a force in both ends of the pool, consistently providing the Sun Devil's a steadying presence on defense. Rogge finished the regular season with 33 goals along with 17 assists, which are tied for the team lead.
Offering a glimpse into the future of MPSF Water Polo, seven student-athletes were named to the MPSF All-Newcomer Team. Freshman Amira Van Buren earned a spot on the team as one of just six freshmen to make the list. Van Buren saw action in 20 matches for the Sun Devils while competing in the toughest conference in the country. Van Buren finished the regular season with seven goals, one assist, and a pair of steals. She earned valuable experience during her first season in Tempe, participating in all five matches during MPSF play.
SUN DEVILS LAND SIX ON MPSF ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM:4?Sun Devils ??????? earn All-Conference recognition from the MPSF! #SunDevilUnity
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) April 26, 2018
??: https://t.co/4gYCG7C5sP pic.twitter.com/BspK0xRuop
Six members of the Arizona State Water Polo team have been selected to the MPSF All-Academic Team as announced by the MPSF on Thursday, May 17th.
The Sun Devils placed six members on the MPSF All-Academic Team, the most since the program had six student athletes on the team in 2016. An Arizona State Water Polo student athlete has received All-Academic honors 84 times since 2006.
2018 (6)@SunDevilWP ??????? places six individuals on MPSF All-Academic Team.
— Sun Devil Water Polo (@SunDevilWP) May 20, 2018
8?4?Sun Devils have been selected to the All-Academic team since 2006!
??: https://t.co/oU1BiOFsLp
- Rosie Huck 4.00 Junior Center Manchester, England/Manchester HS (2nd Consecutive)
- P.J. Allin 3.95 Junior Attacker Victoria, B.C./Reynolds Secondary (2nd Consecutive)
- Maud Koopman 3.80 Junior Attacker Assendelft, Netherlands (2nd Consecutive)
- Alkistis Benekou 3.15 R-Senior Center Athens, Greece (3rd Overall)
- Lena Mihailovic 3.59 Senior Attacker Belgrade, Serbia/Kirrawee HS (3rd Consecutive)
- Bente Rogge 3.71 Sophomore Defender Zaanstad, Netherlands/St. Michael College
COACH CLAPPER'S GROWING RESUME:
Completing his 13th season in Tempe as the head coach of the Sun Devil Water Polo program, Todd Clapper continues to add accolades to an already impressive resume. Under his tutelage, the program has reached unprecedented heights. Since 2012, the Sun Devils have compiled a 141-58 (.708) record under Clapper. In that time the team earned its first victory over UCLA in program history, beat Cal on the road for the first time ever, and matched a program-best upset over No. 2 USC in 2014.
During his first few seasons in Tempe, Clapper was busy working with international teams. He served as the 2005 U.S. Junior National Team assistant coach before being selected as the 2006 U.S. Youth National coach. That year, he led the youth team into the Pan-Am Championships in Montreal, Canada. The team, which was playing up an age level, brought home gold. For his efforts he was named the 2006 USOC National Water Polo Coach of the Year. In 2008 and 2009 Clapper was the head coach of the New Zealand Women's National Team.
Individually, Clapper has continued to grow the program by bringing in some of the top talent both nationally and internationally, including three-time All-American Addison McGrath, who is the program's all-time leading goal and point scorer. He has also helped develop goalkeepers E.B. Keeve and Mia Rycraw who currently sit at No. 2 and 3, respectively, in the Sun Devil record books for career saves. Rycraw's success in 2017 led her to train with Team USA's senior national team and in 2016 Keeve helped lead her Mataro (Spain) club team to both Spanish and LEN titles. Under Clapper's leadership, 33 Sun Devils have earned All-American honors.
2018 NON-CONFERENCE RECAP:
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 PRESTIGOUS IN IRVINE AT PRESTIGOUS 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 match, compiling 14 saves to keep the Sun Devils in the contest.