ASU Women’s Water Polo Heads for Santa Cruz Slugfest

After going 1-1 in the program’s inaugural weekend, ASU’s women’s water polo makes its first road trip to Santa Cruz, Calif., to compete in the Slugfest Tournament this weekend. One of nine teams at the tournament, the Sun Devils will play five games over two days against both collegiate varsity and club teams. There is no championship bracket. ASU’s three games Saturday, February 16, are against the UC Davis ‘A’ club team at 9:00a.m., Cal State Bakersfield varsity at 12:30 p.m. and Cal Poly State (San Luis Obispo) club at 4:00 p.m. Games for Sunday, February 17 are vs. Sonoma State club at 10:10 a.m. and UC Santa Cruz varsity at 12:30 p.m.

STANDOUT SUN DEVILS
As predicted, ASU’s top offensive weapon is senior transfer Kim Yost. In two games against her former team (Santa Clara), Yost totaled a team-leading seven goals. Yost is the only Sun Devil to score in both games this season (4 and 3) … sophomore co-captain Ashley Orzalli is one of three ASU players with two goals on the season, but no other Sun Devils’ goals have been more crucial. Orzalli holds the honor of scoring the first goal in ASU history (5:06, first quarter), and she put ASU into overtime in Game 1 vs. Santa Clara with a backhand shot with eight seconds left in the fourth period … senior goalie Nancy Holmes allowed six goals in ASU’s overtime loss to Santa Clara in Game 1, but accumulated eight saves in Game 2 while keeping the Broncos scoreless until the fourth quarter and holding them to two goals. In Game 1, Holmes also picked up two assists to Kim Yost … in addition to Yost and Orzalli, other Sun Devils to score this season are Kim Currie (2), Lauren Jacobson (2), Robin Kimbrell (1) and Lena Soghomonian (1).

LAST TIME FOR ASU
In its inaugural game, in front of more than 125 fans at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, ASU trailed Santa Clara 4-3 with less than a minute left in regulation. Having missed from the same position with 50 seconds left, sophomore Ashley Orzalli fired a game-tying backhand into the cage from 2-meters with only eight ticks left to send the game into overtime. In the overtime periods however, Santa Clara outscored ASU 3-1 to win by a final of 8-6. Former Santa Clara standout Kim Yost was ASU’s leading scorer with four goals.

In the second game of the day it was all ASU. The Sun Devils raced out to a 5-0 lead, keeping Santa Clara scoreless until the fourth quarter, en route to a 9-2 triumph. Five Sun Devils’ accounted four the team’s 9 goals, while senior goalie Nancy Holmes recorded eight saves.

UP NEXT FOR THE SUN DEVILS
The Sun Devils get a weekend off but then are back in action at the Claremont Tournament in Claremont, Calif., March 2-3.

Sun Devil Water Polo History
First Game: vs. Santa Clara University (02/09/02)
First Starters: Robin Kimbrell, Bryn Kuech, Ashley Orzalli, Kelly Prezkop, Catherine
Taber, Kim Yost and Lindsey Holmes (goalie).
First Sprint: Won by Catherine Taber
First Goal: By Ashley Orzalli (assist Kelly Prezkop), 5:06 first quarter, 6-on-5
First Goal Allowed: Nicole Tronstad (assist Katy Shumm), 2:31 first quarter, 6-on-5
First ASU Ejection: Ashley Orzalli, 2:41 first quarter
First Game Result: 8-6 loss in overtime
First Win: 9-2 vs. Santa Clara, Game Two (02/09/02)
First Loss: 8-6 (OT) vs. Santa Clara, Game One (02/09/02)
Most Goals Scored Team: 9 vs. Santa Clara, Game 2 (02/09/02)
Most Goals Scored Individual: 4 by Kim Yost vs. Santa Clara, Game 1 (02/09/02)
Most Goals Allowed Team: 8 vs. Santa Clara, Game 1 (OT) (02/09/02)
Most Goals Allowed Individual: 2 by Kelly Mays of Santa Clara, Game 1 (02/09/02)

Coaching Staff
The Sun Devils are coached by Vicki Gorman, who was named the first water polo coach in ASU history July 31, 2001. A graduate of Bucknell University in 1993, Gorman arrived at ASU after four years as the head coach at the University of the Pacific (Stockton, Calif.). Playing against the giants of the MPSF, the Pacific Tigers went 30-89 in Gorman’s tenure. Gorman also coached collegiately at Villanova University, where she was the head coach of the club squad from 1995-97, ending her reign just before the Wildcats earned varsity status in 1998. Gorman is assisted by Rodd Parker, a 1994 graduate of Arizona State, who comes off coaching stints with the UC Davis ‘B’ club team and the Vintage High varsity squad. Gorman @ ASU: 1-1 Gorman Career: 31-90

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