April 28, 2012
PALO ALTO, Calif. - The #5 Arizona State University water polo team advanced to the fifth-place game in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, taking down #15 Hawai'i in the consolation semifinals at the Avery Aquatic Center in Palo Alto, Calif.
The Sun Devils got themselves involved in another back-and-forth affair after Friday's shootout against #4 Cal, with neither ASU nor the Rainbow Wahine could take more than a goal advantage until late in the game.
Alicia Brightwell scored her only two goals of the game in the 5:20 of regulation and her second goal with exactly one minute remaining gave ASU a 7-5 advantage and they held on through one final Hawai'i flurry for the 7-6 victory.
Mariam Salloum netted her seventh hat trick of the season to lead the Sun Devil goal-scorers.
The Sun Devils struggled on the offensive end in the first half, finding the back of the net just twice for their worst first-half scoring effort of the season as the team entered halftime trailing 3-2.
ASU found its stroke in the third though, scoring three goals before Alicia Brightwell added two in the fourth to decide the game.
Ianeta Hutchinson had 12 saves from inside the cage, included a save on a last second shot by Hawai'i to seal the victory.
The Sun Devils will take on #8 San Diego State tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. PST in the fifth-place game.
Hawai'i - 1 2 2 1 = 6
Arizona State - 1 1 3 2 = 7
Hawai'i Goal Scorers - Genee 3, Carr 2, Scott
Arizona State Goal Scorers - Salloum 3, Brightwell 2, Carter, Young
Goalie Saves: - Bredin 5 (H); Hutchinson 12 (ASU)