ASU Women’s Water Polo: No. 1 USC’s offense too much for Sun Devils in MPSF Championships

(Photo: Susan Wong/WCSN)

Four straight goals to start the game for No. 1 USC proved to be too tall of a hill to climb as the Trojans took down host No. 5 Arizona State, 16-8, Saturday afternoon to advance to the MPSF Championship Game.

The first three combined shots were missed by both teams but just under two minutes into the game, USC’s junior utility Bayley Weber took a pass from junior driver Grace Tehaney and shot immediately for the Trojans’ first goal. After a quick ASU turnover, senior driver Verica Bakoc doubled the lead just 20 seconds later.

A stop and score for redshirt senior driver Denise Mammolito caused ASU head coach Todd Clapper to take a timeout. After solid defensive play on both ends of the pool, redshurt senior utility Maud Megens hit the back of the net to put the top team in the nation up 4-0 in the opening period.

After firing on all cylinders yesterday, it took six minutes and 20 seconds for the Sun Devils to get on the board and they did so thanks to freshman attacker Luca Petovary. That goal was neutralized 15 seconds later when redshirt senior driver Kelsey McIntosh got USC’s fifth goal past ASU senior goalkeeper Chelsea Karimazondo. All of USC’s opening period goals were scored by different players.

The teams traded goals throughout the second and third periods as the difference stayed at four with the Trojans up 10-6 heading into the final stanza. Weber scored three of USC’s four goals in the second period, finishing the day with four goals all together.

For ASU, junior attacker Borbala Kekesi was able to sneak in a pair of goals to keep the Sun Devils in the contest. The Sun Devils were able to get plenty of shots off, but few were able to find the back of the net.

Four straight goals to start the fourth period for USC signaled the apparent end to the game. McIntosh, Tehaney, Mammolito and junior two-meter player Mireia Guiral were responsible for doubling the Trojan lead from four to eight in just over three minutes.

With the game in control by USC, both teams emptied their benches in the final moments. Senior utility Emma Fraser for the Sun Devils and senior two-meter player Randi Reinhard for the Trojans traded goals. Freshman attacker Abby Begg got the final say for ASU as she converted her five-meter shot with exactly two minutes to play.

No. 1 USC will battle No. 3 Stanford in the MPSF Championship game at 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. No. 5 Arizona State will take on No. 2 UCLA in the third place game at 11:30 a.m. Both games will take place at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe.