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ASU Opens MPSF Tourney Play Against California

by thesundevils.com
Apr 28, 2021

TEMPE, ARIZ.— The Arizona State water polo team returns home after ending the season with a bye week. Earlier this week, the Sun Devils were announced as the #5 seed in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conference Championship Tournament where they will face #4 seed California on Friday at 2:00 p.m. MST.

Both the Golden Bears and the Sun Devils remained ranked in the four and five spots, respectively, in the Collegiate Water Polo Association week 12 polls.

ASU met the Golden Bears in their road opener earlier this season and dropped both games in Berkeley, but kept it close in the second of two games. In that game two, the Sun Devils held the Golden Bears to just five goals, tying their lowest scoring game of the season. The two teams are each 6-6 in conference play, and Friday's matchup will be the deciding factor to the rest of the weekend's play.

If ASU wins on Friday the Sun Devils would face #1 seed USC on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. MST after the Trojans earned a first round bye. In the case of a loss, ASU would not play on Saturday and instead play the game four winner on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. MST.

HOW TO WATCH: The Sun Devils' game, along with all of the other MPSF tournament games,  will be viewable with an MPSF TV subscription. There will also be select walk-up tickets 15 minutes prior to the game starting, they will be selling for $15.

Link to purchase MPSF TV: https://mpsports.org/watch

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: https://thesundevils.com/feature/mpsf

Record Book Update: Bente Rogge is currently eighth all-time in career goals scored in program history, with 144. She sits behind Lynlee Smith who holds No. 7 all-time with 156 goals. 

On watch: Luca Petovary, the reigning MPSF Newcomer of the Week, has the team lead 39 goals, which has cemented her in the record books in the all-time freshman goals scored. Petovary passed Lieke Rogge, who was ninth, with her five goals against UCLA a few weekends ago. She is currently tied for seventh all-time with Maud Koopman. Amira Van Buren is also 5 goals shy of 100 in her career.

About the Sun Devils (12-9, 6-6)

  • The Sun Devils had three players earn All-MPSF honors.
  • Chelsea Karimazondo's 120 saves are second in the MPSF and seventh best in the NCAA.
  • Their No. 5 ranking is just the program's 40th time in this position.
  • This is the 11th straight week the Sun Devils have been ranked in the top five of the CWPA polls.
  • Luca Petovary is fourth in the MPSF in goals with 39, and is the only freshman in that top 10 list.
  • Bente Rogge, Lara Kiss, Luca Petovary are the top three leaders in the  MPSF in field blocks with 20, 15, and 11 respectively. Rogge sits at second in the NCAA in field blocks.
  • Kiss is fourth in assists with 23 in the MPSF.
  • Rogge is fourth in steals in the MPSF with 31, meanwhile Blaire McDowell's 29 steals put her at sixth in the MPSF.
  • Karimazondo had 19 saves against USC to end the regular season.

About the Golden Bears (11-6, 6-6)

  • USC leads the all-time series 24-7 over the Sun Devils
  • Cal boasts a 4-2 record on the road, and a 1-0 record at neutral sites. 
  • Cal had six players earn All-MPSF honors.
  • Cal's Maddie DeMattia is the reigning newcomer of the week.
  • The Golden Bears ended the regular season with two wins over Indiana.

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