(Palo Alto, CA) No. 10 Sun Devil Water Polo (5-3) won both games in Sunday’s doubleheader, which was highlighted by the rematch– and 7-6 victory– against No. 6 Michigan (5-5). This time around, the Sun Devils were led by Juliette Dhalluin’s hat trick which fueled the first upset in the Petra Pardi era. ASU also beat Mountain Pacific Sports Federation foe, No. 17 SJSU, 9-7, to improve to 5-3 on the season.
“I’m very proud of the team for the way they bounced back after a tough game against Cal to be able put together this upset,” noted Pardi after upsetting No. 6 Michigan. “We knew it would be a head-to-head game and we stayed in it together until the last whistle.”
GAME ONE- ASU 7, Michigan 6:
Though Michigan came out swinging and notched the first three goals in the quarter the Sun Devils matched that number and scored three straight goals in the second half of the quarter to keep it tied after one. Two of Dhalluin’s three goals came in the first quarter.
After allowing three goals in the first frame, ASU held the Wolverines to three goals in the final three quarters, allowing just one each quarter. During this time the Sun Devils managed to put up two goals in the second quarter, which ended up being the difference in the contest.
The daunting defense was led by Itzahiana Baca in the cage, who recorded a season-high 12 saves and two steals to hold Michigan to their second lowest goals scored this season. A trio of Sun Devils had 3+ steals: Lara Kiss, Juliette Dhalluin, and Luca Petovary who led the Sun Devils with four.
GAME TWO- ASU 9, SJSU 7:
ASU was on the board first with Alba Olivé Martí’s goal, but SJSU soon matched with a 6-on-5 goal of their own. Dhalluin got her first of the game midway through the first, but a made penalty shot kept the game tied at two. A scoreless second quarter kept it a 2-2 game, as Baca stopped the Spartans’ second penalty shot of the day while their defense kept ASU off the board.
Dhalluin was whistled for her second penalty of the game, and this time SJSU converted on their shot for an early 3-2 lead in the third. Olivé Martí’s second goal of the game tied it back up. With just a minute to go in the quarter, SJSU scored again to bring it back within one goal but another 6-on-5 Sun Devil attack put ASU back up by two.
SJSU scored back-to-back goals early in the fourth quarter to tie it up, but an ASU timeout set up the first goal of the day for Sophie Shorter-Robinson after she notched four goals yesterday against No. 2 Stanford. Her second goal of the frame provided some insurance and allowed ASU to hang on for the win.
UP NEXT: The Sun Devils will have a few weeks to rest and recoup before traveling back to California to compete in University of California, Irvine’s Barbara Kalbus Invitational tournament.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Claudia Schwartz, Media Relations Student Assistant
