Any compulsive gambler who has ever lost his proverbial hide during a high-stakes gambling affair would love to settle for what ASU's water polo team has excelled at all season long -- breaking even.
The No. 15 Sun Devils (11-16) split four games over the weekend at the Long Beach Invitational in the team's final regular season tournament. It was the forth time in as many tournaments the team has broken even this season.
"We're really good at finishing 2-2," junior goalie Jennifer Sanderson said.
The weekend got off to a promising start for the Sun Devils, as they easily defeated an out-matched UC Santa Cruz squad, 16-2, Saturday afternoon. ASU then lost to No. 6 Hawaii, 6-4, in a game the Sun Devils felt they could have won.
"We were geared up and ready for Hawaii," head coach Vicki Gorman said. "[Hawaii was] uncomfortable and frantic all game long, but we felt we had our composure throughout."
ASU's play on Sunday picked up where it left off on Saturday as the Sun Devils lost to the tournament host team, No. 4 Long Beach State, 12-6. The Sun Devils, however, managed to end the tournament on a high note as they defeated Pacific, 8-6.
While the results may not have been what the team had hoped for, its coach saw a silver lining.
"I don't think we played our best," Gorman said. "We were mentally and physically tired by the end, but we needed to get into that state of mind to prepare for the [conference] tournament."
Sanderson felt the team has improved and will be ready for the postseason.
"The conference tourney is in a couple of weeks, so the games were a good practice," she said. "I think we'll be able to perform well because every game we play, we're better than the game before."
Reach the reporter at vic.vela@asu.edu.
