ASU Water Polo Wins Two Games to Open 2-15 Season at UCSB

TEMPE – The No. 5 Arizona State University water polo team opened up the 2015 season with two victories to open the UCSB Winter Invite on Friday in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Sophomores Izabella Chiappini and Alkistis Benekou combined for 12 total goals to help pace the Sun Devils to an undefeated record through one day in the 2015 season.

Recaps of the day’s action can be found below.

No. 5 ASU 9, No. 11 CSUN 6

The Sun Devils overcame a slow first half to drop seven second half goals and take down CSU Northridge in the first game of the season, 9-6, on Friday afternoon to  pick up the first victory of the season.

Sophomores Izabella Chiappini and Alkistis Benekou each scored three goals a piece, five of which coming in the second half to help carry the Sun Devils over the Matadors. 

Neither team could find any offensive rhythm in the first half, with ASU taking a 2-1 advantage into the locker rooms. ASU exploded for seven goals after the break, five of which coming in the third quartet to help the Sun Devils take an overwhelming 7-4 lead into the final frame. 

The Matadors evened things at 5-5 with a goal with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter but ASU ripped off four straight goals after that, picking up goals from four separate players to take a 9-5 lead with 5:37 remaining in regulation.

Chiappini scored all three of her goals in the second half, including two in the decisive third quarter.

Abbey Kerth, Kayla Casas and Petra Pardi all each added a goal toward ASU’s cause.

No. 5 ASU 15, Cal Baptist 9

Izabella Chiappini and Alkistis Benekou each combine for the second hat tricks of the day to help lead ASU to a 15-9 victory over Cal Baptist in the night cap on Friday evening in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Abbey Kerth and Daisy Carter each added two goals in the contest while freshman Tatlor Bertrand added the first two goals of her Sun Devil career to add to the ASU scoring while Taylor Johnson, Petra Pardi and Lena Mihailovic all added a goal to ASU’s cause in the contest.

ASU took put the game away on Mihailovic’s first career goal with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter, taking a 10-5 advantage in the game and never looking back.

The Sun Devils netted five first quarter goals - two of which coming for Chiappini – to take a 5-2 lead through one frame in the contest.

ASU returns to action tomorrow in a doubleheader with games against UC San Diego and Azusa Pacific with 2:40 p.m. and 3:50 p.m. PT, respectively.