(Tempe, AZ) No. 14 Sun Devil Water Polo (2-0) outscored their opponents 42-12 in the first two games of the Cross Conference Challenge Saturday afternoon at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. Defeating Cal Lutheran 26-2 in the first game and outlasting No.20 Wagner 16-10 in the second contest.
The Sun Devils managed to break the program record for most goals in a game against Cal Lutheran with 26, and set the record for the largest margin of victory over the Regals (24), eclipsing the record set on March 12, 2016 against Redlands with a 24-1 victory. The maroon & gold netted six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks to open the year 2-0.
Luca Petrovary and Sophie Shorter-Robinson totaled nine goals apiece between both games, and transfer Millie Quin finding the back of the net seven times Saturday. Sophomore Sanne Keijzer tallied 20 saves against the Seahawks, tied for the third most in a game in program history and the most since E.B. Keeve reached the 20-save mark against Indiana on May 8, 2014.
Game Notables:
The Sun Devils’ 26 goals are the most in a game in program history, Eclipsing the mark set on March 29, 2009 when the Sun Devils defeated the Regals 25-6.
The victory over Cal Lutheran also marks the largest margin of victory for the Sun Devils with a 24-goal difference, passing the mark set on March 12, 2016 against the Redlands with a 24-1 victory.
Sophomore Sanne Keijzer tallied 20 saves against Wagner, tied for the third most in a game in program history and the most by a Sun Devil since E.B. Keeve reached the 20-save mark against Indiana on May 8, 2014. Keijzer is the fourth Sun Devil to reach 20 saves in a game.
Luca Petrovary’s seven goals are tied for the second most in a game against Wagner. It’s the second time in her career that she’s reached the mark and the only Sun Devil to score seven goals twice in a game.
In fact, it’s the senior’s second career game with ten or more points, after having 7 goals and 4 assists against Wagner on Saturday.
Petrovary’s 15 points on the day moved her up to 9th all-time with 195 career points, surpassing Alkistis Benekou (2014-18) and Katie Hedley (131-50).
Auckland’s own Sophie Shorter-Robinson scored six goals against Cal Lutheran, setting a career-high.
Lara Kiss’ two assists on the day give her 100 career assists as a Sun Devil, becoming the fourth Sun Devil in program history to surpass the century mark and ranks fourth in program history on the assists list.
Freshman Jasmijn Dikmans, Kat Featherstone, Ashley Ferguson, Sandra Garcia and Gabby Gaetano all tallied their first career collegiate goals.
Game 1: ASU 26, Cal Lutheran 2
In the first quarter, the Sun Devils got off to a quick 9-0 start, led by six different goal scorers, with Gabby Gaetano capping off the period with her first collegiate goal along with Kat Featherstone, and Sandra Garcia in the opening eight minutes.
The speed and quickness of the Sun Devils pursued in the second quarter as Alba Olivé Martí found the net twice in the quarter to achieve a hat-trick. Millie Quin and Sophie Shorter-Robinson also netted goals, going into the half with a 15-0 lead.
The second half presented the same dominance from the Sun Devils with Olivé Martí, Quin and Shorter-Robinson all finding the net for ASU. Ashley Ferguson scored her first collegiate goal and Emily Van Zonneveld added to the lead in the third quarter, carrying a 23-2 lead.
Auckland native Sophie Shorter-Robinson added all three goals in the fourth quarter, and led the team with six goals on the day, a career-high.
Game 2: ASU 16, Wagner 10
The Sun Devils managed to strike first with Luca Petrovary’s first goal at the 4:16 mark in the opening period, then Sandra Garcia added another goal at 1:54 before the Seahawks tied the game at 2-2 after the first eight minutes.
Jasmijn Dikmans scored her first collegiate goal to open the second quarter at 5:06, then Sophie Shorter-Robinson scored back-to-back times for ASU putting them ahead 5-2, but the Seahawks battled back with the Sun Devils holding a one-goal lead at halftime.
Despite an early goal from Olivé Martí, the Seahawks responded with three straight goals forcing Pardi to take a timeout being down 8-7. On the ensuing possession, Quin scored back-to-back goals to give ASU a 9-8 lead with 2:21 left. Both sides traded goals until the end of the quarter with each side tied 10-10.
Entering the fourth tied, Luca Petrovary took over the game with three straight goals in the first 57 seconds of the quarter, adding two steals to her tally. Shorter-Robinson would add her third goal of the contest for a hat trick, and Petovary would add her seventh goal of the game put ASU ahead 15-10. Millie Quin sealed the victory with 1:06 left to give the Sun Devils two wins for the day.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils return to action tomorrow at 10:20 a.m AZT against No. 18 LMU. Coverage can be seen on ASU Live Stream-2 and live stats can be found on 6-8 sports. ASU will also face Salem in the final game of the weekend at approximately 1 p.m MST.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Zach Wargo
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