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Late Rally From No. 1 USC Overpowers Water Polo

by thesundevils.com
Apr 17, 2021

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.-- Arizona State water polo dropped their first of two games, 10-7,  against No. 1 University of Southern California after the Trojans (15-0, 9-0) were able to stage a late rally. The Sun Devils (12-8, 6-5) matched the Trojans' energy keeping it tied at the half, but USC eventually pulled away and outscored ASU 6-3 in the second half. 

Bente Rogge was the leading scorer for the Sun Devils with two goals, two assists and one steal. Luca Petovary, Abby Begg, Bori Kekesi, Amira Van Buren, and Lara Kiss each tacked on one goal in the loss.


The Sun Devils kept it close in the first half as both teams were trading goals to keep the game close. ASU saw four different scorers in the first half, while USC's production came from Maud Megens who had three goals in that first half. The two teams were tied heading into the half, USC picked up their largest lead of the game of three goals in the third quarter, and did not look back from there. 

Chelsea Karimazondo got the start at goalie for the Sun Devils, and held a USC team averaging over 13 goals a game to just 10 goals in today's meeting. In the loss, she recorded 11 saves and held USC to a 0.345 shooting percentage with 10 goals on 29 shots. 


Up Next: ASU's final game of the regular season will take place tomorrow back at Uytengsu Aquatic Center where they will play their fourth and final game against USC. The game will be watchable via the USC Live Stream, https://pac-12.com/live/usc-2. ASU will return home for postseason play, as the MPSF championship will be hosted in Tempe this year. 

ASU 7, USC 10
HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • USC scored on their opening possession
  • Luca Petovary's 39th goal of the season got the Sun Devils on the board with 5:41 remaining in the first. 
  • Abby Begg's goal tied the game with 2:18 left in the first quarter.
  • ASU and USC were tied at 2-2 at the end of one. 
  • USC scored first in the second quarter to give them the 3-2 lead. 
  • Rogge tied it back up at the 6:19 mark in the second quarter. 
  • Lara Kiss's goal with 1:45 left in the second quarter gave ASU the first lead of the game. 
  • USC's Maud Megens's third goal tied the game back up with under a minute remaining in the second quarter.
  • The two teams were knotted at four apiece at the half.
  • USC scored first in the third, but Amira Van Buren tied it at five with 4:50 remaining in the third. 
  • USC's sixth goal came on the powerplay to give them a 6-5 lead.
  • Rogge's second goal of the game made it a 7-6 USC lead.
  • USC took their 7-6 lead into the final quarter.  
  • USC picked up two early goals in the fourth quarter to go up 9-6.
  • Bori Kekesi's goal cut the USC lead 9-7. 
  • USC got a goal back to make it 10-7 in the final minute.

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