(Photo: Xavier Litman/WCSN)
TEMPE — On Saturday afternoon, No. 18 ranked Arizona State women’s water polo celebrated Senior Day by taking home a win against the No. 20 ranked San Jose Spartans at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe. The Sun Devils dominated today’s game after going on a four-game losing streak to secure the 11-7 win. The Sun Devils’ win against San Jose was their first-ranked win at home all season and was a perfect way to end their regular season play.
“It was emotional because this was our last home game of the season, and we’re sending out our seniors, so there were a lot of emotions,” said head coach Petra Pardi. “It’s always a day I love and dread because we get to honor the four-year journey and the impact they made on this program, but at the same time, it’s also sad because it’s their last time.”
Redshirt sophomore utility Emily Van Zonnaveld had a massive role in Saturday’s victory, scoring three goals on three attempted shots. Assisting Zonnaveld in the win, junior attacker Luca Petovary scored three times as the Sun Devils led. On the defensive end, senior goalkeeper Itzahiana Baca protected the net and helped to secure the win, contributing an astounding 12 blocks/saves in the game.
The Sun Devils started off strong, scoring just 57 seconds into the game with a goal from freshman utility Juliette Dhaluin. The Sun Devils attempted four shots in the first quarter that were just missed or brushed off the bars in the first few minutes of the game.
However, graduate attacker Tina Doherty came to save the Sun Devils at 2:51, scoring a goal and increasing their lead to 2-0. Petovary obtained another goal off a penalty at 1:42, extending their first-quarter lead to three.
The Spartans made their way onto the scoreboard in the second quarter, just 54 seconds in. The scoring drought was snapped by Van Zonnaveld’s sixth goal of the season at 4:20, making the score 4-1 ASU.
21 seconds later, San Jose State scored, attempting to return from its deficit of 4-2. Van Zonnaveld scored again, with her second consecutive goal turning the Sun Devils lead to 5-2. Before going into the half, the Sun Devils gave up a goal decreasing their lead to 5-3.
At the start of the second half, the Spartans narrowed the Sun Devils lead to one with a goal 27 seconds in. Bouncing right back, senior utility Olivia Traxler clutched her first goal of the game, increasing the lead to two goals. Each team went on to score again. With 5:02 to play in the third, it was 7-5 Sun Devils.
Petovary’s third goal came at 3:46 remaining in the third quarter, extending the lead to 8-5. Baca blocked a shot attempt from the Spartans within the final minute of the third quarter. Arizona State went into the final eight minutes leading by three, 8-5.
Junior utility Tarah Schaffer increased ASU’s lead to a game-high four, 9-5, with a goal at 6:05 left in the fourth. The Spartans responded 61 seconds later, making the score 9-6 Sun Devils. Van Zonnaveld brought the lead back to four with the 10th Arizona State goal of the contest, 10-6, with 4:26 left in regulation.
Shorter-Robinson scored her first and only goal of the game with 2:11 remaining. The Spartans attained another goal, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the Sun Devils, yielding ASU was victorious in taking down the Spartans 11-7.
With the regular season finished, the Sun Devils will move on to the MPSF Conference Tournament, where they will face UCLA.
“It’s pretty late in the season, and we’re gaining momentum,” said Pardi on post-season play. “As I mentioned, the previous four losses that we had made us progressively get better little by little, and now we’re finally growing as a team together, and we want to continue this momentum.”
