(Tempe, AZ) No. 19 Sun Devil Water Polo (8-11, 0-4) fought goal-for-goal early on against No. 3 UCLA Bruins (18-4, 3-1) in the 17-10 loss in Saturday’s matinee at Mona Plummer. Freshman attacker Juliette Dhalluin led all scorers with six goals, tying her career high and moving her into third all-time in single season goals among freshmen in program history with 59, and is the most UCLA has allowed to a player all season, as ASU drops to 0-4 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play.
Head Coach Petra Pardi praised her freshman’s all-around effort, “Juliette’s performance was incredible today. We were in a situation where we needed her to guard and she did a phenomenal job.”
Freshman goalkeeper Alexa Knutson got her sixth straight start in net and recorded 10 saves on the day against the Bruins. The Sun Devil defense helped her out, drawing four penalties and seven exclusions on the day, but UCLA was matching goal-for-goal after the Sun Devils took an early 2-0 lead.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Graduate attacker Tina Doherty put the Sun Devils on the board first just two minutes into the game, and senior utility player Olivia Traxler found junior center Alba Olivé Martí up the middle for the second goal of the day for an early 2-0 lead. UCLA scored the next three goals to take the 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
UCLA scored first in the second to double their lead 4-2. Scored on a power play for 5-2 lead. The Sun Devils countered with a power play goal of their own thanks to freshman attacker Juliette Dhalluin to being the lead back down to two. The Bruins scored another goal, but Dhalluin’s and Martí’s second of the day brought ASU back within two. UCLA held an 8-5 lead at halftime.
In UCLA’s first possession of the third quarter, Luca Petovary was called for a penalty and the Bruins’ attempt was good. Immediately after, Tina Doherty drew a penalty on the other side, and Dhalluin’s made attempt earned her the hat trick. Back-to-back goals from UCLA extended their lead 11-6. A final UCLA goal with :02 on the clock extended their lead 12-6.
Dhalluin had another made penalty shot for her fourth goal of the day, but the deficit was 13-7 with five minutes remaining. On the next Sun Devil possession, Dhalluin again found the back of the net and cut the deficit to five. UCLA scored twice, and with two minutes remaining, Tarah Schaffer drew a penalty and Dhalluin had her third penalty shot of the day for her sixth goal.
UP NEXT: The Sun Devils travel back to California next weekend for an MPSF matchup against No. 2 USC on Saturday, April 15 at 1pm MST. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Network.
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