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Luca’s Five Goals Highlights Battle Against No. 12 Long Beach State

The Fosh | ASU v. Pomona Pitzer Live Stats Opens in a new window 2024 Barbara Kalbus Invitational Info Opens in a new window
Luca’s Five Goals Highlights Battle Against No. 12 Long Beach StateLuca’s Five Goals Highlights Battle Against No. 12 Long Beach State
Thomas Fernandez
IRVINE, CALIF. – The opening game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational saw No. 7 Sun Devil Water Polo fight until the end against No. 12 Long Beach State (8-3), but was unable to overcome a 4-goal deficit early in the game, resulting in a 11-9 defeat. Senior Luca Petovary shined with five goals and an assist.

Petovary's tally of 5+ goals in a game marks the fifth time this season she's reached the mark, and the 14th straight game with 3+ goals in a game. In total she six points during the game. She also drew four exclusions on the day. 

Lara Kiss tallied a goal and an assist and also swiped two steals putting her in sixth all-time on in program history with 114 career steals. Sophie Shorter-Robinson tallied her 28th goal of the year on her only shot. Alison Kokorowski and Alba Olivé Martí each netted a goal in the loss.

Sophomore Sanne Keijzer tallied 13 saves and a steal, making it the third time she's tallied 10+ saves in a game.

Arizona State (12-3, 0-1 MPSF) will face Ponoma-Pitzer tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. AZT on the consolation side of the tournament. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
  • Long Beach took an early 2-1 advantage in the opening quarter, with Luca Petovary accounting for the Sun Devils only goal at the 5:15 mark. Long Beach would score two unanswered to lead 4-1 after the first quarter.
  • Lara Kiss gave the Sun Devils their second goal in the first minute of the second quarter, as each side traded possessions throughout the period.
  • Capping off a gritty first half, Alba Olivé Martí netted the Sun Devils' third goal with 47 seconds left before halftime. ASU would face a 6-3 deficit at the break.
  • Petovary scored two in the third period to bring the Sun Devils within two goals in the third frame, but both sides traded goals throughout the quarter. 
  • Sophie Shorter-Robinson belted a goal at the 1:02 mark, as the Sun Devils faced a 9-6 deficit.
  • Petovary wasted no time, scoring her fourth goal in the first minute of the fourth quarter, then Kokorowski scored her first goal putting ASU down 10-8, prompting a Long Beach timeout with 5:35 to play.
  • Following a 30-second timeout, Long Beach converted on the power play, but Petovary was successful on her third penalty shot of the day, making it 11-9 in favor of Long Beach.
  • The Sun Devils had multiple chances to make it a one-goal game but were unable to cut into the Long Beach lead. 

UP NEXT
The Sun Devils will look to rebound against Ponoma-Pitzer tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. AZT. The first of two games on Saturday at UC Irvine. The match against the Sagehens can be followed on The Fosh

HOW TO FOLLOW:
Continue following Sun Devil Water Polo on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook all-season long during the 2024 season @SunDevilWP for coverage of the team. Live stats can be found on 6-8 sports and The Fosh along with other MPSF Conference teams.