Women’s Water Polo: ASU Upsets UCI, 6-5

TEMPE, Ariz., March 26. THE No. 20 Arizona State women's water polo team jumped to an early lead Wednesday afternoon before holding off a tough No. 15 UC Irvine team to claim a 6-5 victory at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.

Katie Davis (Jr., Riverside, Calif.) tallied the game-winning goal with 12 seconds showing on the clock to put the Sun Devils (17-9) ahead for the third and final time to hand a tough loss to the Anteaters (11-13).

ASU's fifth win in a row started strongly in favor of the home team as Heather Rempfer (Fr., Lodi, Calif.) and Tessa Wyborny (Fr., Walnut Creek, Calif.) each scored in the opening quarter of play to stake the Sun Devils to an early 2-0 lead. Wyborny would again tally early in the second period before Aleah Amr netted the first UCI goal to cut the lead to 3-1. Brun Kuech (So., Bonsall, Calif.) scored on a four-meter penalty shot with 1:11 left in the first half to push the ASU advantage back to three goals.

In the second half, the Anteaters came out on fire with Erica Horman scoring two goals in the opening two minutes of the quarter and teammate Karly Tivenan adding a breakaway score to tie the game at four. Fifteen seconds later, Gili Kollan (So., Kiriat Bialek, Israel) collected the rebound off a Wyborny shot and pushed it past the goalie for a 5-4 lead heading into the final period of play.

In the fourth quarter, Lauren Volcan scored for UCI with 1:45 remaining as she trailed the play and shot for the goal following an Anteater steal. Tied at five, Davis scored her lone goal of the day to give
the Sun Devils the win.

In goal, Lizzie Houck (Fr., San Diego, Calif.) recorded 11 saves, including several from point-blank range, to keep the Sun Devils ahead.

The Sun Devils' second win in a row against the Anteaters this year also marks the highest ranked foe ASU has defeated in its short history. The previous best was a 7-5 defeat of No. 18 UCI Feb. 22 in
Irvine, Calif.

Arizona State plays host to No. 11 UC Santa Barbara at 4 p.m. Thursday

1 2 3 4 F
#15 UC Irvine 0 1 3 1 5
#20 Ariz. State 2 2 1 1 6

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