By avenging an early season loss, the Sun Devils sent their seniors and the home crowd a going-away present Saturday.
The No. 11 ASU water polo team (13-11, 5-7 MPSF) upset No. 8 San Diego State (20-10, 5-7 MPSF) in the last game of the season, 5-4, on Saturday at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
Coming into the game, all ASU had on its mind was the close loss it had endured to San Diego State earlier in the season and what a win would mean for its postseason chances.
"I just really wanted to beat San Diego State, considering that we lost to them a few weeks ago," senior Tessa Wyborny said.
Eight Sun Devil seniors were recognized prior to their last home game.
Shortly thereafter, Wyborny made her presence felt by netting the first goal of the game.
"I really wanted to go out with a bang, especially here at home," Wyborny said.
San Diego State responded with a goal of its own to bring the game to a tie heading into half.
The Aztecs returned to take a 2-1 lead at the beginning of the second half, but would see their lead dissipate as ASU responded quickly.
Freshman Rowie Webster took ASU on her shoulders and scored two goals within 30 seconds of each other to give the Sun Devils a lead they would not relinquish.
"It really lifted the momentum of the team and it just formed from there," Webster said. "It was up and down and then we just broke away."
Sophomore Traci Aparicio and Webster tacked on two more goals for ASU before the Aztecs added one of their own to close out the third quarter, 5-3 and then held on in the fourth.
The third quarter explosion ensured ASU a No. 7 seed entering the conference championships and should give the Sun Devils a boost of confidence
"It gives everybody a chance to see and feel good that they were confident and this is something we can do every quarter," coach Todd Clapper said.
ASU finished off the regular season by winning its fifth conference game of the year, more than their combined total coming into this year. Webster also finished with 48 goals, most by a freshman in ASU history.
Reach the reporter at william.hayes@asu.edu.
