The Sun Devils aim to finish the regular season strong before postseason play
(Tempe, AZ) Capping off their fourth straight game at home, No. 10 Sun Devil Water Polo will celebrate its seniors and play host to the No. 4 USC Trojans in their final MPSF matchup slated to begin at 1 p.m. AZT with coverage being streamed on ASU Live-Stream 3 and live stats available on 6-8 sports.
Arizona State (22-6, 2-3 MPSF) is coming off a back-and-fourth win against No. 14 Indiana in a 10-9 victory, winning their second straight at home and their 11th home game of the season. Millie Quin led the way with three goals and two assists in the teams second MPSF win of the year. Southern California (16-5, 3-1 MPSF) split its two games last weekend, falling to Stanford 10-8 and defeating San Jose State 14-8.
Luca Petovary has scored in all 28 games this season, accounting for a program record 117 goals, she’s three away from breaking the MPSF record for most goals in a season. Becoming the second Sun Devil to tally 300 points in a career. Sanne Keijzer tallied 11 saves against the Hoosiers and is 12 away from 200 saves this season.
SENIOR DAY
Arizona State will honor its four seniors prior to the start of the game. Abby Begg, Emily Van Zonneveld, Luca Petovary and Alba Olivé-Martí will all be recognized for their dedication to the Sun Devil Water Polo program.
LAST TIME OUT
The Sun Devils emerged victorious against the No. 14 Hoosiers last Saturday in a 10-9 victory, thanks to a last-second steal by Millie Quin who sealed the game for the maroon & gold. Millie Quin scored three goals and had two assists for a game-leading five points. Sanne Keijzer has 11 steals in the win, and Lara Kiss was all over the pool with two goals, three assists, four steals and two field-blocks.
LUCA LEADING THE WAY
The senior has been unstoppable in the pool all season breaking multiple ASU records this season, earning the title of being the all-time leading scorer in Sun Devil history with 247 career goals, with 117 of them coming this season alone. She’s three away from breaking the MPSF record for most goals in a season.
Dating back to her junior season, Petovary has scored in 33 straight games, and she currently leads the team and the MPSF conference with 117 goals. She has tallied 145 points this season, the most in a season by a Sun Devil. The senior has averaged an astounding 4.17 goals per game and has 11 games this season with 5+ goals, including 26 multi-goal games. Lastly, she has totaled three MPSF play of the week honors this season.
CUTINO WATCH LIST
Announced on March 14. Luca Petovary was one of 22 collegiate women’s water polo players to be named on the Cutino Watch List, recognizing the best collegiate water polo players in the country. Petovary has an MPSF leading 117 goals, and 28 assists for 145 points.
DUO FROM DOWN UNDER
After competing together for New Zealand this past summer and playing together in high school, Millie Quin and Sophie Shorter-Robinson have been a dynamic duo, ranking second and third on the team in goals and points this season. Quin has tallied 67 goals through 28 games which ranks 8th in program history for most goals in a season, along with her 39 assists, its tied for 7th most in a season. Her 106 points total make it the sixth most in a season in ASU history.
Shorter Robinson has netted 51 goals this season, including scoring a goal in 20 of the last 21 games this season. She ranks third in the MPSF conference only behind her teammates Quin and Petovary.
SUN DEVIL OUTLOOK
No. 10 Arizona State (22-6, 2-3 MPSF)
The Sun Devils 22nd win marks the 2nd most in a season in program history, only behind the 26-win mark that was achieved in 2012 and 2013..
SUN DEVIL WATER POLO MOST WINS
2013: 26-7
2012: 26-6
2024: 22-6
2016: 21-8 (NCAA)
2008: 21-13
2017: 20-7
2003: 20-18
Sophomore Millie Quin has 14 games this season with 3+ goals and has five multi-goal games in the last six for the Sun Devils. In that stretch, she has three hat tricks, eight assists and 10 steals.
Graduate Lara Kiss leads the MPSF conference with 42 assists, which is tied for fifth for most assists in a season in program history. She also has swiped 28 steals and leads the MPSF with 29 field-blocks.
Sophie Shorter-Robinson and Luca Petovary are currently tied for second in drawn exclusions this year at 34.
The Sun Devils currently hold a 19-1 record this year when scoring 10+ goals in a game, and are 15-1 this season when they have multiple players scoring 3+ goals.
Scoring first has been prevalent for the team’s success this season, going 18-1 in such games where they’ve struck first.
The Sun Devils boast a 11-7 record against ranked teams this season.
The maroon and gold are vying for their first win over the Trojans since Feb. 10, 2008 when ASU defeated USC 8-5.
OPPONENT OUTLOOK
No. 4 USC Trojans (16-5, 3-1 MPSF)
The Trojans are coming off a 1-1 weekend where they fell to Stanford 10-8, but rebounded against San Jose State 14-8 last Sunday.
The Trojans boast a 10-5 record against ranked teams this season and have recorded two wins against top-5 opponents this year.
USC has three players with 60+ points this season. Led by Alejandra Aznar who has 36 goals and 35 assists, then the team-leading goal scorer Ava Stryker with 42 goals and 26 assists, followed by Julia Janov with 39 goals and 23 assists.
In the cage, Carolyne Stern has 144 saves and has six games with 10+ saves this season. Including a season high 14 against Michigan.
In head-to-head, the Trojans lead the series 38-1.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Continue following Sun Devil Water Polo on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook all season long during the 2024 season @SunDevilWP for coverage of the team. Live stats can be found on 6-8 sports and TheFosh along with other MPSF Conference teams.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Zachary Wargo
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