ASU squares off against Defending National Champions to start conference play

(Courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)

Finishing with a 3-1 record in the Triton invitational last week in San Diego, ASU water polo looks to defeat the defending national champions, UCLA to start Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conference play.

The No.11 Sun Devils (9-2) take on No. 3 UCLA (6-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. AZT, after both teams went 3-1 in the Triton Invitational last week. The Bruins beat Concordia University Irvine, No.13 UC San Diego and No. 6 UC Irvine before dropping the championship game to conference rival No. 1 USC. The Sun Devils finished ninth after dropping a heartbreaking overtime loss to UC San Diego before rattling off wins against Concordia University Irvine, No. 24 California Baptist University and No. 15 UC Santa Barbara.

In 2025 ASU and UCLA have played three common opponents UC San Diego, Concordia University Irvine and UC Davis. The Bruins beat all three teams with a combined score of 57-19 compared to the Sun Devils who are 2-1 with an overtime loss to UC San Diego with a combined score of 51-28.

The Bruins have historically dominated the Sun Devils winning 30 of the 32 matchups all time. The Sun Devils’ two wins have both come at home in low-scoring matchups, winning once in 2013 and 2021. In the 2013 matchup, current ASU head coach Petra Pardi led the way for the Sun Devils and recorded a hat trick.

In conference play, the Sun Devils struggled last year going 2-4 compared to UCLA who went 6-0 en route to finishing undefeated for the entire 2024 campaign.

Last year the Bruins won both matchups in competitive games. They beat ASU in a close 14-12 game at home and won 13-8 in the Triton Invitational.

UCLA has seven players who scored in matches against ASU. They are highlighted by junior attacker Taylor Smith who scored five goals across the two games. Sophomore utility Natasha Kieckhafer and junior utility Anna Pearson, she scored three goals in the pair of games, with Pearson scoring the game-winner in the home match for UCLA.

Six current Sun Devils scored goals with junior center Sophie Shorter-Robinson and junior attacker Millie Quin scoring a goal in each. The pair will have to excel if ASU wants to upset UCLA.

Both teams have players getting individual awards and leading conference statistics.

The Sun Devils are headlined by freshman attacker Itziar Almeda who won MPSF Newcomer of the Week last week with eight goals and a performance score of +10.2. Almeda ranks fifth in the conference for assists as well. Quin is tied for first in goals in the MPSF conference with 30.

Pearson is having another great season. Last week, she won MPSF Player of the Week with 11 goals and a performance score of +20.1. Sophomore goalie Lauren Steele is fourth in performance score, the top goalie on the list. The redshirt junior attacker ranks tied for second in the conference in assists with 19.

If ASU can upset UCLA, it will announce its presence on the national and conference stage.