USC avenges loss to ASU

 by Steven Falkenhagen
 published on Monday, February 18, 2008

Lindy Mapes / THE STATE PRESS

AQUA DEFENDER: Senior goalie Caylin Wallace goes up for a block during the Sun Devils’ game against USC Sunday at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe.

The ASU water polo team wishes it could have had an extra quarter or two tacked on to its game against USC on Sunday.

The Sun Devils (8-4, 0-1 MPSF), ranked No. 8 in the National Collegiate Women's Top 20 Poll, opened up Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play with an 11-5 loss to No. 3 USC (6-2, 2-0 MPSF) Sunday at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe.

The Trojans came out firing early, scoring the first five goals of the game, including three goals in the first quarter. USC junior driver Michelle Stein began the USC assault by scoring in transition with 6:40 left in the first period. Trojan USC junior driver Jordan Anae added another goal with 4:26 left in the first quarter, and senior driver Miranda Nichols completed the trifecta with 1:44 to go in the opening stanza.

ASU's first goal came off of sophomore center Kelly Phelps' shot with 2:44 left in the first half, cutting USC's lead to 5-1. But USC sophomore driver Kelly Lucas responded quickly with a goal with a minute left in the half, giving the Trojans a 6-1 advantage going into the break.

ASU attempted to rally in the fourth quarter, scoring four goals to USC's two, but by then it was too late. Freshman attacker Lauren Hayes led ASU with two goals. Fellow freshman attacker Kristen Wagner added another goal for the Sun Devils, and junior all-around Addison McGrath had the game's final goal with 1:58 left in regulation.

ASU looked hesitant in many of its offensive possessions. Either the Sun Devils didn't have confidence in their scoring abilities or didn't feel they were getting open looks at the net. On more than one possession, they would pass the ball around looking for a shot, and wait until the 35-second shot clock went down to almost zero before taking a shot.

ASU coach Todd Clapper said the Sun Devils were not aggressive enough on offense.

"We came out tight," Clapper said. "People were a little nervous about making mistakes passing. People had open shots early, and they were a little nervous about taking them.

Hayes, who now has eight goals on the season, may be taking more shot attempts in the future.

"I've actually been a real tentative shooter," Hayes said. "I've been working on that."

Senior goalie Caylinn Wallace said the team's fourth-quarter surge demonstrated resilience.

"Obviously, we didn't start very well but I'm proud of the team for finishing hard," Wallace said. Unfortunately, the mistakes got the better of us today.

Reach the reporter at: steven.falkenhagen@asu.edu.