Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.

Devils get final tuneup against San Diego State

sports_waterpolo_williams
Junior all-around Lindsay Williams passes the ball to a teammate during a game against the California Golden Bears earlier this season.

Saturday will be the last opportunity for the ASU water Polo team to show its skills in front of a home crowd as it closes out the regular season.

And for the eight seniors, this weekend will mark their last game in the maroon and gold at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.

The No. 11 Sun Devils (12-11, 4-7 MPSF) will take on No. 8 San Diego State (19-9, 5-6 MPSF) in the final conference game of the year.

For the fans, it will be the last opportunity to see the first class of recruited Sun Devils compete four years and graduate from ASU. The contest serves as the annual Gold Game, where fans are encouraged to wear gold to the game.

For the players, they're hoping that the finale brings out a host of new spectators.

"I don't think people understand how the game is played," goalie Caylinn Wallace said. "People come watch and they love it because it's so intense, so physical and it's good to see all that intensity in the pool."

ASU will return to the pool following two weeks away from competition and will look to gain momentum as they enter the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships next week.

"Having this week off was definitely a plan in terms of really being able to focus on what we're doing as a team," coach Todd Clapper said.

The team used the week away from competition to make final adjustments as they head into the postseason.

"You need to be able to try some different things without knowing that in three days you're playing in a game and you don't want to mix it up," Clapper said.

This weekend will also be a rematch from earlier in the season when ASU lost 4-2.

"San Diego State is a team that we feel like we can go and beat," Clapper said. "Particularly having it at home and it being senior day, we feel we can go in there and win that game."

This season, ASU has fared well at home, going 3-2 and only losing to top-ranked USC and No. 6 California by a goal apiece.

The Sun Devils will also look to continue their improvement from earlier in the season.

"I have a lot of confidence in the girls on our team," Wallace said. "You can definitely tell that we are at a different level from where we started at."

Following this weekend, the Sun Devils will find out their seeding going into the MPSF Championships. ASU can wind up anywhere from the seventh spot to the 10th depending on the outcomes from this weekend.

Reach the reporter at william.hayes@asu.edu.


Continue supporting student journalism and donate to The State Press today.

Subscribe to Pressing Matters



×

Notice

This website uses cookies to make your experience better and easier. By using this website you consent to our use of cookies. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.