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Water Polo Drops OT Thriller to No. 2 UCLA

by thesundevils.com
Apr 11, 2021

TEMPE, ARIZ.-- Arizona State water polo almost stunned No. 2 UCLA with a second upset in as many games as the Sun Devils took the Bruins to a sudden death situation, but fell 11-10 with a UCLA goal in the final seconds of the seventh period. With this series split, ASU drops to 12-7 on the season and 6-3 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation conference play.

After the Sun Devils upset UCLA on Saturday, the two teams fought to the end, as both Head Coaches picked up yellow cards today. The Defensive efforts were strong for both teams, with ASU leading 5-2 at the half. UCLA battled back, picking up six goals in the third to ASU's three. In the fourth quarter each team scored one and prompted two overtime periods. UCLA picked up their only OT goal in the 5th period, while ASU scored with under two minutes remaining in the 6th period to take it to sudden death. UCLA's game-winner came with just 15 seconds remaining in the 7th period to seal the deal. 

Defensively, Chelsea Karimazondo started in goal for the Sun Devils for the second straight against UCLA, and recorded 15 saves and held UCLA to 11 goals on 40 shots, a 0.275 shooting percentage. Karimazondo's saves today put her at 101 on the season which currently leads the team and all goalies in the MPSF. The Sun Devils were able to draw nine exclusions, but went 0-9 in their man-up opportunities. 

Offensively, Bente Rogge, Luca Petovary, and Amira Van Buren all had a multi-goal performance against the Bruins, with Petovary recording three and Rogge and Van Buren tacking on two apiece. Petovary's three goals passes Lieke Rogge (37) for eighth all-time in program history as goals scored as a freshman (38) with two games to go in the regular season. Rogge now sits at 144 goals in her career, and is six shy of the 150 goal milestone in the maroon and gold.

Up Next: ASU hits the road for the final road games of the regular season with two against the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. USC is currently ranked #1 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association polls, and is first in the MPSF conference.

ASU 10, UCLA 11
HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • ASU held UCLA off of the board in the first. 
  • Petovary scored the first goal with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter.
  • Alba Olive Marti followed with a goal at 1:51 to make it a 2-0 game.
  • ASU took a 2-0 lead into the second quarter. 
  • Van Buren opened up scoring for ASU with a goal 22 seconds into the second quarter.
  • Rogge's goal in the second made it a 4-1 game.
  • The second goal of the game for Rogge came 25 seconds before the half to put ASU back up by three.
  • ASU led 5-2 at the half.
  • Five Bruins scored in the third quarter to put up six goals, while ASU was only able to get three on the board with goals from Fraser, Van Buren, and Petovary. 
  • The two teams were tied heading into the fourth quarter.
  • Blaire McDowell scored early in the fourth quarter and the Sun Devils were unable to hold UCLA, who scored with 2:17 remaining in the fourth quarter to send it to OT. 
  • In the fifth period, UCLA scored with 2:13 remaining.
  • ASU was scoreless in the sixth, but countered with Petovary's third goal coming in the sixth period with 1:12 remaining.
  • UCLA picked up the game winner with :12 remaining in the seventh period in a sudden death situation.

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