(Tempe, AZ) No. 9 Sun Devil Water Polo split Saturday’s doubleheader with a 24-5 win over Salem and a 10-13 overtime loss to Harvard. In game two, Luca Petovaryshattered the program’s single game point and assist record with 14 points (7G-7A) today. The record previously sat at 10 (3G-7A) after Vanda Baksa’s performance last season against Harvard exactly 364 days ago.
ASU will wrap up the ASU Invitational tomorrow, March 12 at 9:00 am MST against Marist. The game will be streamed via ASU live stream 2. Live stats can be found via Sun Devil water polo’s Linktree, here.
Speaking of her junior attacker Luca Petovary, head coach Petra Pardi noted Luca’s dominance against Salem, “it was no surprise that she was able to break Vanda’s record.” The single-game assist record, 7, is now held by Hungarians Petovary and Baksa.
True freshman Alexa Knutson got the start in net against Harvard and notched 16 saves, which is the most by a Sun Devil goalie since Chelsea Karimazondo’s 19 saves against Cal on April 30, 2021. However, ASU was shorthanded almost the entire second half as Tina Doherty, Luca Petovary, and Stevilyn Griffin each picked up their third exclusions at the five minute mark in the third quarter. ASU eventually falling in overtime.
Meanwhile in game two, the Sun Devils recorded their third largest margin of victory in the 24-5 win over Salem, 19, in program history since 2014 when the Sun Devils won 20-1 on March 16, 2014 against Marist.
GAME 1: ASU 10, Harvard 13
In what was a close first quarter with each team making a penalty shot, the Sun Devils eventually pulled away to lead 4-2 at the end of the first quarter thanks to two straight goals from Tina Doherty.
Each team netted two goals in the second period which was good for a 6-4 Sun Devil lead, but ASU was in foul trouble as Luca Petovary got her third exclusion before the half ended, while three additional Sun Devils had two exclusions of their own.
Tina Doherty and Stevilyn Griffin each picked up their third exclusions just three minutes into the third period and were out for the game. ASU and Harvard each notched two goals in the third quarter, and Juliette Dhalluin’s third goal securing another hat trick came in the frame.
Harvard and ASU again scored two goals apiece in the fourth quarter, and a goal with 20 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime as ASU couldn’t capitalize on their final possession.
The Crimson scored three goals in the first overtime period and held ASU scoreless in both overtime periods to secure the 13-10 win.
GAME 2: ASU 24, Salem 5
Got on the board first with Luca Petovary’s goal with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter. Goals from Emily Van Zonneveld, Stevilyn Griffin, and Juliette Dhalluin put ASU up 4-0 at the end of the first quarter. Salem went 0-9 shooting during this time.
Salem tacked on two goals in the second while Doherty recorded two goals and Dhalluin had a hat trick in the third quarter alone, with her third goal coming off of a penalty shot. Alba Olivé Martí got her first of the weekend for a six goal cushion. Petovary assisted on four of the five goals in the quarter for a 10-2 lead. Knutson tallied six saves before being replaced by Marie Rudasics in the cage.
Petovary got back in on the fun with two goals of her own on the first two Sun Devil possessions of the third quarter for a hat trick. At the 4:45 mark, Petovary netted her fourth goal of the game, and Emily Van Zonneveld was on the scoresheet nearly a minute later.
Van Zonneveld got a hat trick with her penalty shot, and moments later Molly Ostrowskiscored her first career goal to put the Sun Devils up 21-4. The Sun Devils closed the game out to secure the 25-4 win.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Claudia Schwartz Media Relations Student Assistant
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