TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 7 Sun Devil Water Polo team (4-1) protected their home pool with a pair of wins on day two of the Cross-Conference Challenge, a 19-7 win over Iona (1-2) before a 15-2 win over No. 25 Azusa Pacific (3-7).
The Sun Devils cap the weekend on Sunday with a pair of games. Their toughest matchup of the weekend will come first thing Sunday morning vs. No. 10 UC Santa Barbara at 8 am MT before they face No. 24 California Baptist at 1:15 pm MT Sunday afternoon.
Both ASU games are scheduled to be live streamed while all five Sunday matches will have live scoring. Links to all are on the water polo schedule page at TheSunDevils.com.
Game 1: #7 Arizona State 19, Iona 7
By Colton McCrea, Sun Devil media relations
The victory marked the third of the young season for ASU and second in Cross Conference Challenge play. 12 different Sun Devils found the scoresheet in the match that accumulated to a season-high 19 goals.
Newcomer Viktoria Orlova proved to be too much for the Gales in the second half, finding the back of the net on four different occasions in her game-high performance. Along with her offensive display, Orlova provided support to the defensive end with one steal.
The attack of Maud Koopman, Julia Reyes, Amira Van Buren, and Blaire McDowell totaled eight goals with two goals apiece. McDowell recorded an impressive defensive performance as well, adding four steals to her credit while senior teammate, Koopman, supplied three steals to her resume.
The Gaels found themselves ahead right out of the gate to begin action but ASU would quickly counter. Just over two minutes into the opening quarter, senior Julia Reyes found the back of the net to tie things up, 1-1.
ASU found separation after the Reyes goal, going on an incredible 10-0 run spanning to the second half. Sisters Bente Rogge and Lieke Rogge were a part of the charge, scoring back-to-back goals within a minute of each other. Layla Waters, Borbala Kekesi, Meghan Beaudet, Catherine Simko, and Kate Cassidy also chimed in with a goal of their own to show off a well-rounded team performance.
Goalies Bridget Johnston and Belen Ehinger split time in the net during the matchup. Johnston was superior in her defense in the first half of play, holding the Gaels to only one goal and securing seven saves in the process.
The second half was much of the same as what occurred in the first 16 minutes of action, as ASU finished with 12 goals in the final two frames to put the Gaels away quietly.
Game 2: #7 Arizona State 15, #25 Azusa Pacific 2
The Sun Devils improved to 4-1 including 3-0 this weekend as they cruised to their second victory of the day, a 15-2 top-25 win over Azusa Pacific.
Arizona State took a 3-0 lead into the middle of the second quarter before Azusa Pacific found the back of the net with 5:14 remaining until halftime. The Cougars scored one more time just after halftime, at which point ASU led, 7-2 but the Sun Devils would tack on eight more goals in the final nine minutes of the contest.
Rosie Huck and Bente Rogge led the way with three goals apiece while Lieke Rogge, P.J. Allin, and Maud Koopman each scored two goals apiece. Julia Reyes, Amira Van Buren, and Layla Waters also earned a place on the scoresheet with a goal to each of their credit.
Bridget Johnston once again got the start and win in goal, recording seven saves in three quarters of play while Chelsea Karimazondo saw her first time of the season with three saves in one quarter of action. The Sun Devils also led, 30-24, in shots.
The Sun Devils cap the weekend on Sunday with a pair of games. Their toughest matchup of the weekend will come first thing Sunday morning vs. No. 10 UC Santa Barbara at 8 am MT before they face No. 24 California Baptist at 1:15 pm MT Sunday afternoon.
Both ASU games are scheduled to be live streamed while all five Sunday matches will have live scoring. Links to all are on the water polo schedule page at TheSunDevils.com.
Game 1: #7 Arizona State 19, Iona 7
By Colton McCrea, Sun Devil media relations
The victory marked the third of the young season for ASU and second in Cross Conference Challenge play. 12 different Sun Devils found the scoresheet in the match that accumulated to a season-high 19 goals.
Newcomer Viktoria Orlova proved to be too much for the Gales in the second half, finding the back of the net on four different occasions in her game-high performance. Along with her offensive display, Orlova provided support to the defensive end with one steal.
The attack of Maud Koopman, Julia Reyes, Amira Van Buren, and Blaire McDowell totaled eight goals with two goals apiece. McDowell recorded an impressive defensive performance as well, adding four steals to her credit while senior teammate, Koopman, supplied three steals to her resume.
The Gaels found themselves ahead right out of the gate to begin action but ASU would quickly counter. Just over two minutes into the opening quarter, senior Julia Reyes found the back of the net to tie things up, 1-1.
ASU found separation after the Reyes goal, going on an incredible 10-0 run spanning to the second half. Sisters Bente Rogge and Lieke Rogge were a part of the charge, scoring back-to-back goals within a minute of each other. Layla Waters, Borbala Kekesi, Meghan Beaudet, Catherine Simko, and Kate Cassidy also chimed in with a goal of their own to show off a well-rounded team performance.
Goalies Bridget Johnston and Belen Ehinger split time in the net during the matchup. Johnston was superior in her defense in the first half of play, holding the Gaels to only one goal and securing seven saves in the process.
The second half was much of the same as what occurred in the first 16 minutes of action, as ASU finished with 12 goals in the final two frames to put the Gaels away quietly.
Game 2: #7 Arizona State 15, #25 Azusa Pacific 2
The Sun Devils improved to 4-1 including 3-0 this weekend as they cruised to their second victory of the day, a 15-2 top-25 win over Azusa Pacific.
Arizona State took a 3-0 lead into the middle of the second quarter before Azusa Pacific found the back of the net with 5:14 remaining until halftime. The Cougars scored one more time just after halftime, at which point ASU led, 7-2 but the Sun Devils would tack on eight more goals in the final nine minutes of the contest.
Rosie Huck and Bente Rogge led the way with three goals apiece while Lieke Rogge, P.J. Allin, and Maud Koopman each scored two goals apiece. Julia Reyes, Amira Van Buren, and Layla Waters also earned a place on the scoresheet with a goal to each of their credit.
Bridget Johnston once again got the start and win in goal, recording seven saves in three quarters of play while Chelsea Karimazondo saw her first time of the season with three saves in one quarter of action. The Sun Devils also led, 30-24, in shots.