WHAT: No. 10 Sun Devil Water Polo vs. Ottawa University of Arizona (0-6)
WHEN: Saturday at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. MST
WHERE: Mona Plummer Aquatic Center
STATS: 10 a.m.: https://www.thefosh.net/livestats.php?gameid=9299
2 p.m.: https://www.thefosh.net/livestats.php?gameid=9300
Tempe, AZ – The No. 10 Sun Devil water polo team is set to open the 2020 season at home on Saturday against Ottawa University of Arizona (0-6). ASU will host the Spirit for two matchups at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The first game will be at 10 a.m. MST and second will be at 2 p.m. MST. Live scoring will be available for both games. All home matches are free and open to the public.
Scouting the Opponent
Ottawa University of Arizona opened its inaugural season this past weekend at the UCSB Winter Invite. The Spirit will be coming into Tempe looking to pick up their first win in program history after going 0-6 last weekend, including a loss to MPSF opponent, UCLA.
Taylor Bacerra, Hylah Prussak and Sydney Thomas proved to be offensive threats for the Spirit, combining for 14 of the team's 19 goals in the tournament.
2019 in Review
Last season, the Sun Devils finished 14-12 and seized fifth place at the MPSF Championship after finishing the season ranked sixth in the conference and 10th CWPA.
Amira Van Buren made a big impact in her sophomore season, earning an award for give by Head Coach Todd Clapper for Most Improved Player. She was fourth on the team in goals scored with 24, after scoring 7 during her freshman season. Van Buren had seven multi-goal performances in her sophomore season, including back-to-back two-goal games in wins over Indiana and San Jose State at MPSF Championships.
ASU's offense was led by senior Maud Koopman who recorded 58 goals and 12 assists. She was as consistent as they come on the offensive end, scoring in 22 of 23 matches and posting a team-leading 15 multi-goal games.
Looking Ahead to 2020
Head coach Todd Clapper enters his 15th season at the helm of the program, while assistant coach and former Sun Devil All-American Petra Pardi is in her second season as a full-time assistant coach.
Along with Van Buren, key returners for the Sun Devils include Borbala Kekeski and Belen Ehinger. Kekeski looks to follow a notable freshman season in which she notched 14 goals, 6 assists and 7 steals. While serving as a backup goalie behind Bridget Johnson, Ehinger put up impressive numbers, including 9.67 saves per game.
The Sun Devils also added a wealth of new talent for the 2020 season with six freshman, including goalkeeper Itzahiana Baca, member of the 2018 Olympic Development Program, and utility/attacker Alison Cameron, who, as a captain for Team Canada, helped her team to a bronze medal at the Youth Women's Pan-American Championshipsand. Junior transfer Emma Fraser also joins the Sun Devils from Santa Barbara City College. Fraser helped the team to a CCCAA state championship in 2017 and 2018.