Doubleheader Dub for Water Polo highlighted by Upset Over No. 6 Michigan

PALO ALTO, California No. 10 Sun Devil Water Polo (5-3) won both games in Sunday’s doubleheader, highlighted by a rematch and a 7-6 victory over No. 6 Michigan (5-5). This time the Sun Devils led by Juliette Dhalluin the hat trick that fueled the first upset of the Petra Pardi era. ASU also defeated Mountain Pacific Sports Federation foe No. 17 SJSU, 9-7, to improve to 5-3 on the season.

“I’m very proud of the team for the way they bounced back after a tough game against Cal to pull this upset together,” said Pardi after upsetting No. 6 Michigan. – We knew it would be a competitive game and we stayed together until the final whistle.

GAME ONE – ASU 7, Michigan 6:
Although Michigan came out swinging and scored the first three goals of the quarter, the Sun Devils hit that number and scored three straight in the second half of the quarter to keep it tied at one. Two of Dhalluin’s three goals came in the first quarter.

After allowing three goals in the first frame, ASU held the Wolverines to three goals in the final three quarters, allowing just one in each quarter. During that time, the Sun Devils managed to score two goals in the second quarter that ended up being the difference in the contest.

A fearsome defense led Itzahiana Baca in the cage, who recorded a season-high 12 saves and two steals to hold Michigan to the second fewest goals scored this season. A trio of Sun Devils had more than 3 assists: Lara Kiss, Juliette Dhalluinand Luca Petovary which led the Sun Devils with four.

GAME 2- ASU 9, SJSU 7:
ASU got on the board first with a goal by Alba Olivé Mart, but SJSU soon got in the game with a 6-5 goal of their own. Dhalluin got the first midway through the game, but a penalty shot kept the game tied. A scoreless second quarter kept the score tied at 2-2 as Baca stopped the Spartans’ second penalty shot of the day while their defense kept ASU off the board.

Dhalluin was whistled for his second penalty of the game, and this time SJSU converted his shot for a 3-2 lead in the third period. Olivé Martí’s second goal of the game leveled the situation. With just over a minute left in the period, SJSU scored again to pull it back to within one, but another Sun Devil 6-5 run put ASU back up by two.

SJSU scored back-to-back goals early in the fourth quarter to tie the score, but an ASU timeout set up the first goal of the day. Sophie Shorter-Robinson after scoring four against Stanford yesterday. His second goal in the frame secured and allowed ASU to hold on for the win.

NEXT: The Sun Devils have a few weeks to rest and recover before traveling back to California to compete in the Barbara Kalbus Invitational at the University of California, Irvine.