ASU water polo starts season 6-0 following UCSB Winter Invite

The No. 5 Sun Devil water polo team wrapped up its opening weekend of competition in 2013 with an unblemished 6-0 record following victories against Concordia and No. 6 UC Irvine on Jan. 27 as the squad concluded the UCSB Winter Invitational in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Over the course of the weekend, ASU outscored the opposition 67-36 and scored in double digits in all but on game.  Senior Alicia Brightwell had 17 goals over the weekend while redshirt freshman goalkeeper E.B. Keeve was sensational with 66 saves (11 saves per game) with five games with double digits in the category. 

Recaps of today's final games are found below:

ASU 15, Concordia 5

The conclusion of the UCSB Winter Invitational allowed several new faces on the #5 Arizona State University water polo team to strut their stuff as the Sun Devils routed Concordia, 15-5.

Freshmen Katie Sverchek had five goals for the Sun Devils to lead the way as ASU climbed to an 8-2 lead at the midway point and never looked backed. 

Kate Enoka scored the first three goals as a Sun Devil to earn a her first career hat trick while Amanda Young and Makenzy Fowler each netted two goals apiece.

Freshmen Abigail Kerth and Shayly McDonnell added the first goals of their Sun Devil careers while fellow freshman Daisy Carter rounded out the scoring. 

E.B. Keeve wrapped up her exception first weekend of competition as a Sun Devil with 12 saves - her fifth double-digit saves game of the six played this weekend.

The Sun Devils will return to action on Feb. 9 for the UCSD Triton Invitational in San Diego, Calif. 

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#5 ASU 5, #6 UC Irvine 4

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - In the toughest test of the early season for the #5 Arizona State University water polo team, the Sun Devils held off a late rally from UC-Irvine to post a 5-4 victory at the UCSB Winter Invite on Sunday.

In the Sun Devils' (5-0, 0-0 MPSF) most offensively challenged game of the year, Alicia Brightwell was held scoreless for the first time this season.  The senior had scored 17 goals in four games to open the season.  Sophomore Gao Ao came to the rescue however, netting a hat trick to place the Sun Devils.

ASU jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first frame and looked like they would be on cruise control from there, but they struggled to find the back of the net from there scoring just once more over the course of the rest match.

The Anteaters launched a late rally, scoring two in the fourth to draw back within one but couldn't find the equalizer as the Sun Devils held on for the win.

E.B. Keeve had 12 saves from the cage for ASU for her fourth game of the season with double digit saves. Sophomores Petra Pardi and Makenzy Fowler each added goals for the Sun Devils.