(Tempe, AZ) In the midst of the Tempe sun, the matinee matchup featured No. 7 Sun Devil Water Polo (8-1) outlasting No. 12 UC Santa Barbara (7-4) 12-6 Friday afternoon at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The Sun Devils scored seven unanswered goals to open up the game, leading to a 7-1 lead after the first eight minutes.
Three different Sun Devils scored hat tricks in the victory, with senior Luca Petovary netting her eighth straight game with at least three goals, and the New Zealand duo Millie Quinand Sophie-Shorter Robinson also scoring three apiece in the win. Alba Olivé Martí netted her second multi-goal game of the season with two on the day, and Kat Featherstonescoring a goal in the victory.
Sophomore Sanne Keijzer made seven saves in the victory, making it the eighth win as the starter this year.
With the victory it’s tied for the third-best start in program history through nine games, and the seventh-ranked victory this year for the Sun Devils. Quin’s three goals make it the sixth game this year where she’s scored three or more in a game, along with Shorter-Robinson’s three goals, it marks the fourth game where she’s scored at least three in a contest. The team recorded eight steals on the day,
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Millie Quin opened the scoring for the Sun Devils within the first 12 seconds of the game, then Luca Petovary buried the team’s second goal of the day at the 5:26 mark.
- Shorter-Robinson then scored twice in 44 seconds to give the Sun Devils an early 4-0 lead in the opening quarter. Kat Featherstone, Alba Olivé Martí, and Petovary added goals before the end of the quarter to have a 7-1 advantage.
- The Gauchos scored two quick goals before Olivé Martí added the Sun Devils’ 8th goal, as the defensive intensity increased on both sides. ASU held an 8-3 lead at the half.
- Even though ASU won the initial sprint, UCSB was able to capitalize on drives and buried two goals in the back of the net, closing the deficit to three. But ASU responded with three unanswered goals to close out the third quarter scored by Quin (2) Shorter-Robinson (1) to lead 11-5.
- ASU had the fourth consecutive sprint win in the fourth quarter and started the Sun Devils off with strong defense, only holding the Gauchos to a goal in the quarter. Sanne Keijzer blocked a Gauchos’ goal attempt and what followed was a steal and goal by Luca Petovary. The Sun Devils would hold off any comeback attempt by the Gaucho en route to the 12-6 win.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils continue tomorrow by playing two games in the ASU Invitational against San Jose State at 11:30 a.m. AZT and Marist at 4:00 p.m AZT at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. Coverage can be seen on ASU Live Stream-3 and along the Sun Devil Water Polo social channels and live stats on 6-8 sports.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Mariah Cox & Alyssa Muccillo
