The ASU water polo team added three wins to its perfect record Saturday at the Cal Baptist Mini Lancer Invite in Riverside, Calif.
The No. 6 Sun Devils (8-0) kept the intensity up as they played three consecutive games, showing their competitiveness and endurance.
Coach Todd Clapper said they started a little shaky in the opening game against Cal State Northridge (10-5), but they came alive in the second half.
“The fourth quarter was big,” he said. “Things came together for us.”
Senior Alicia Brightwell and junior Shannon Haas scored first for the Sun Devils, while sophomore Ianeta Hutchinson proved to be a powerful force in the net, denying 11 shots on goal.
“We’re continuing to grow in our defensive game, which is good,” Clapper said. “Some individuals are improving a lot on defense and the team is coming together as well. It’s an ongoing effort, but defense is better than it was. However, it needs to become more instinctive when in pressure situations.”
The team’s counter attack was strong, and they continued to push hard throughout the tournament.
Haas and freshman Anna Kertes were prime scorers, locking away ASU’s victory over Cal State Bakersfield (14-7).
Freshman Makenzy Fowler, Kertes and senior Annabelle Carter improved personally, but also were keys to the Sun Devils’ wins.
ASU gained many new players who are still getting used to playing games and finding teammates in scoring opportunities.
“It’s good to see some of the newer players getting more confident,” Clapper said. “Fowler is posting a lot, which is something we like to see, and Kertes is getting more comfortable and sure of herself.”
Freshman Petra Pardi led the Sun Devils with five goals in the victory over Cal State San Bernardino (21-2), completing the tournament sweep.
In and out of the pool, “the team chemistry is great,” Clapper said.
He’s pleased to see the team’s competitiveness and the increasing effort every week.
“There’s a lot of potential with this group,” Clapper said.
Although the Sun Devils are off to an outstanding start, they realize they still have things to work on.
“We need to organize our offense and make sure people are going to the right spots,” Clapper said.
One of the next things the Sun Devils will add to their practices is the continued focus on their counter attack.
In terms of conditioning and focus, the Sun Devils proved to be more skilled and focused than their opponents. This made a difference in their performance, especially playing in back-to-back games.
“We’re faster, stronger and in better shape,” Clapper said. “Consistency is something we continue to work on. It’s very early in the season, but we’re happy with where we’re at.
“We’re happy, but not satisfied, which gets us excited about the games on the horizon.”
Reach the reporter at fawade@asu.edu
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