(Tempe, AZ) No. 8 Sun Devil Water Polo (19-4, 0-1 MPSF) returned to Mona Plummer Aquatic Center after their three-week California road trip, defeating No. 19 Harvard (9-7, 3-2 CWPA) 11-6. The win was a welcome homecoming for the current squad and the former players that were in attendance to commemorate the program’s past in the annual alumni game Saturday morning at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
Previous alumnae from the program witnessed the Sun Devils lead the Crimson from start to finish. ASU scored three first quarter goals to build a 4-1 halftime lead, and kept their foot on the pedal in the second half, netting three goals in the third quarter and four in the final frame. It’s the ninth win for the Sun Devils over a ranked opponent this season.
On offense, sophomore attacker Millie Quin led with a team-high three goals, it’s her 12th game this season with 3+ goals, followed by two goals apiece from seniors Luca Petovary and Alba Olivé Martí. In net, sophomore goalkeeper Sanne Keijzer recorded seven saves. keeping Harvard off the scoreboard for nearly the entire first half. Petovary broke the season record for most points in a season with 124 with two goals and an assist. She is currently five goals away from breaking the ASU record for most goals in a career, where she’s currently at 232 goals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alba Olivé Martí opened scoring for the Sun Devils, as she beat the Harvard goalie from close range to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead about 3:30 into the first quarter.
Later, Quin scored to put ASU ahead by two goals, then freshman utility Ashley Ferguson rifled a shot from right of the net to make it 3-0.
Halfway through the second quarter, ASU pushed their lead to four after Petovary’s shot blew past the Crimson goalkeeper.
Coming out of the half, Olivé Martí scored her second goal of the day on a six-on-five advantage to make it 5-2.
Millie Quin tallied her second goal to extend ASU’s lead to four goals, then Shorter-Robinson put the Sun Devils ahead, 7-2, with 5:11 remaining in the third quarter.
The Sun Devils opened the final frame strong and Petovary netted her second goal of the game on a penalty shot 24 seconds into the fourth to put ASU ahead by four, Two minutes later, Lara Kiss scored to make it 9-4.
With 2:35 remaining in the game, Freshman attacker Gabby Gaetano gave ASU a six-goal margin, their biggest lead of the game.After two late Crimson goals, Quin tallied her third goal of the game to complete her hat trick with 41 seconds remaining to wrap up the win for the Sun Devils.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will look to continue their winning streak in two weeks against MPSF foe San Jose State in San Jose on March 23th at 1:00 p.m. Then face-off against Stanford on March 24th at 1:00 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Chase Clemens
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