For most players on the ASU water polo team, there are many more games left to play. For one player, it's one of her last games. But for the entire squad, there never will be another game like this one.
The No. 15 Sun Devils will host their final home contest of the season Saturday, and it may prove to be an emotional affair. The team will look to pull off a monumental upset as it takes on the undefeated and top ranked USC Trojans.
"There are no words to describe what it would feel like if we were to upset USC," ASU coach Vicki Gorman said. "There wouldn't be a dry eye in the house.
"There would be nothing else to say other than 'we've arrived.' "
USC has been untouchable all season as the Trojans take their take a 17-game winning streak into this weekend's matchup. The highest ranked team the Sun Devils had previously faced this year was UCLA, a team that handed the Sun Devils a 13-5 loss on Sunday. On paper, ASU may be considered outmatched by the Trojans, but the team manages to keep things in perspective.
"We lost to UCLA, but we beat (then No. 10) UC Santa Barbara," sophomore Heather Rempfer said. "That's the game that we think will propel us to compete with USC. How we play them is how we need to come out against the No. 1 team in the country."
If anything positive came from the UCLA loss, it was that the Trojans' style won't catch the team by surprise.
"I think we know what to expect," said Gorman. "We go into most games prepared.
"It will also be nicer to play USC at home than UCLA on the road. It's a big advantage playing against the No. 1 team in the nation in your home pool."
As if the daunting task of taking on a water polo powerhouse in the team's final home appearance of the season doesn't produce enough drama, the fact that this is the home finale for the team's sole senior and scoring leader should make Saturday's game rival any staged theatric production.
"It's exciting," said senior Katie Davis. "I know I'll have other games the rest of the season, but win or lose, it's going to be weird. Any game I want to play well in. But this is the last (home) one so I want to do well.
"This team is pretty important to me."
But her coach thinks Davis' emotions will be held in check.
"You try not to focus on it too much," Gorman said. "She's all business and does her job. Don't expect her to get too emotional."
Davis holds school records for steals in a season (101 in 2003) and consecutive games scored (22). The team hopes to send off its leader in style.
"All season long she's proven herself," said Rempfer. "It'd be nice to win for her and us as well."
Reach the reporter at vic.vela@asu.edu.
