Water polo tops CS Northridge in MPSF tourney opener

Despite jumping out to an early lead, the No. 4 Arizona State University water polo needed a stellar fourth quarter of play to come from behind and capture its opening round game, 10-8, Thursday afternoon in San Diego at the 2008 MPSF Championships. A trio of Sun Devils scored three goals each to pace the offense and help ASU improve to 21-10 overall on the year while dropping the Matadors to 12-18.

The victory, which gave the Sun Devils a single-season record for wins, surpassing the 20 recorded by the 2003 squad (20-18 that season), did not come easy as the sixth-seeded Sun Devils jumped to a 3-1 lead through one quarter of play before the 11th-seeded Matadors tied the game at five at the half. ASU found itself on the low end of the scoring after the third quarter of play, trailing 8-6, before the defense clamped down and the offense came to life to outscore CSUN, 4-0, in the final period of play for the 10-8 win.

ASU was led in the scoring column by Traci Aparicio, Addison McGrath and Bonnie Miles, all of whom netted three goals each. Kelly PhelpsCaylinn Wallace recorded six saves in the victory. added the remaining score for the Sun Devils. Defensively,

Next up for the Sun Devils will be a showdown with No. 3 USC at 2:40 p.m. on Friday afternoon. A victory over the Troajans, who ASU upset 8-5 earlier this season, would push the Sun Devils into the semifinals for the first time in program history and bolster their chances for making the NCAA Championships field for the first time.

#15 CS Northridge vs. #4 Arizona State
MPSF Championships - Opening Round - San Diego
CSN - 1 - 4 - 3 - 0 = 8
ASU - 3 - 2 - 1 - 4 = 10

ASU Goals - Aparicio 3, McGrath 3, Miles 3, Phelps
CSN Goals - Brookes 2, Sonoda 2, Van Gorder 2, Curran, Gargiulo

ASU Saves - Wallace 6
CSN Saves - Stapf 13