It was an eventful weekend for the ASU water polo team, as it closed out conference play with Saturday’s matchup against No. 14 San Diego State and honored its senior class Sunday against No. 15 Indiana (18-9).
The No. 9 Sun Devils (16-12) were handed an 11-8 loss by the Aztecs, but rebounded with a strong 18-8 victory against the Hoosiers to finish their regular season.
“It showed a lot of character in the team to be able to do a 180 from [Saturday to Sunday],” ASU coach Todd Clapper said. “I feel really good in how we finished.”
SDSU traveled to the Valley of the Sun hoping to defeat ASU and win its first conference game of the season, and the Aztecs (19-13) did just that.
ASU struck first on offense when sophomore goalie Dana Harvey launched a pool-length pass to senior center Kelly Phelps, who fired it in the goal at the 5:34 mark of the first quarter. But the Aztecs countered with three goals of their own in the first frame.
As the clock wound down, senior attacker Kari Walsh passed to junior attacker Lynlee Smith, who netted her first goal of the game to tie the score at three apiece. ASU would tack on another with eight seconds left in the first quarter to take a 4-3 lead.
The ASU offense stalled in the second frame, as the Aztecs held ASU scoreless until Smith scored her second goal with 19 seconds left in the first half.
SDSU held a 6-5 lead at the halfway point and would lead the rest of the game.
ASU freshman center Shannon Haas’s two third-quarter goals were not enough to catch the surging Aztecs, who held on for the 11-8 victory over ASU.
With the loss, the Sun Devils fall to 0-7 in MPSF conference play.
Sunday was a different story for the Sun Devils in their final regular season game against IU, where the team then honored Walsh, Phelps, and attacker Bonnie Miles before the game.
“It is really a bittersweet moment,” Phelps said after the game. “Todd gave a speech and thanked the seniors, and all of us burst into tears. It is really emotional. I’m fortunate to have such a great team — we’re really close.”
The 2010 senior class is a unique one for Clapper — one that he has seen progress over the years.
“It’s the first [class] that I recruited as a head coach,” Clapper said. “We’ve seen them grow as athletes and people. They have done a great job growing with the program.”
After the pregame ceremony, it was back to business in the pool for the Sun Devils against the Hoosiers.
The seniors led the way in the first quarter of play, with Miles passing to Phelps, who netted the goal to jump out on top 1-0. Walsh and junior attacker Candice Phillippe added goals to take a 3-0 lead after one period of play.
“I think after [Saturday], we were all really disappointed with our loss,” Phelps said. “We decided to come out and give everything we have and leave everything we have in the pool.”
Sophomore attacker Kelsey White put on a show in the second quarter with her three goals to earn the hat trick for the Sun Devils. Junior attacker Sarah Harris netted two goals for the Sun Devils, who held a 9-3 lead at halftime.
The ASU offense kicked off the second half when Harris added her third goal just 26 seconds into the quarter. Sophomore attacker Annabelle Carter scored two goals, and Phelps added another for the Sun Devils.
In the fourth quarter, freshman center Kaileigh Esson entered the game and quickly drew the ejection during ASU’s offensive drive. Seconds later, Miles fired the ball into the net to extend ASU’s lead to 17-8.
With only 14 seconds left in her final game at home, Walsh added another goal, her second of the game.
“We haven’t connected like that in the pool for a really long time,” Phelps said.
Behind the explosive offense and much-improved play, the Sun Devils finished with an 18-8 victory over the Hoosiers.
“There was no change tactically,” Clapper said. “It was the team coming together and playing for each other.”
The Sun Devils accomplished their goal of winning the regular season finale for the departing seniors.
“They wanted to make sure the seniors went out on a good note,” Clapper said.
Reach the reporter at gregory.dillard@asu.edu
