Sun Devils Take UCSD Invite, Build on Best-Ever Start
Feb. 13, 2012
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ARIZONA STATE (12-0 Overall/0-0 MPSF) stayed unbeaten with four wins at the UC San Diego Invitational, capped off with an 8-4 championship over No. 6 UC Irvine. The 12-0 Sun Devils, off to their best start in the 11-year history of the program, also scored wins over Loyola Marymount (10-9), UCSB (7-5) and CSU Bakersfield (16-7). Alicia Brightwell combined for 12 goals in the tournament. Anna Kertes posted a second half hat trick in the final.
STANFORD (7-0 Overall/1-0 MPSF) Kiley Neushul put away a game-high four goals, followed by a hat trick apiece from Ashley Grossman and Jillian Garton in a 13-5 MPSF-opening victory at San Jose State last Saturday. Kate Baldoni picked up eight saves in the cage. Stanford broke open a 3-3 second quarter tie, scoring 10 of the final 12 goals. The Cardinal visits Santa Clara Saturday (Feb. 18).
SAN DIEGO STATE (8-1 Overall/0-0 MPSF) posted four wins last week, culminating with a bronze finish at the UC San Diego Invitational. After starting the week with a 16-6 home opener over Hartwick, SDSU followed up with wins over Sonoma St (18-2), Northridge (12-9) and Loyola Marymount (8-7) in La Jolla. Amber Pezzolla combined for a 17-goal week, pouring in at least three in all five games. The MPSF schedule begins at home Saturday vs. UCLA.
UCLA (7-1 Overall/0-0 MPSF) led wire-to-wire in an 11-5 home-opening victory over Cal Baptist last Friday. Seven Bruins' scored, led by three goals each from KK Clark and Hannah Sebenaler, also a career-high for the latter. Caitlin Dement stopped 10 shots in goal. UCLA travels to San Diego State Saturday in the MPSF opener.
SAN JOSE STATE (6-4 Overall/0-1 MPSF) dropped its MPSF opener last Saturday at home, 13-5, as Dani Curran converted two penalty shots. Goalkeeper Meagan Minson collected 10 saves. The Spartans visit California Saturday (Feb. 18) in another conference game.
USC (3-1 Overall/0-0 MPSF) won three of four to place third at Stanford, defeating San Jose State (14-6), UC Davis (13-6), and No. 2 California (10-5). Kaleigh Gilchrist put away seven goals in the four games, including a career-high three against the Bears. Monica Vavic tallied four of her five goals on day two. The Trojans were off last week, and compete at the Cal Baptist Tournament (Feb. 17-18).
CALIFORNIA (11-2 Overall/1-0 MPSF) is in the conference win column after an 8-5 outcome over Hawaii on Feb. 2 at home. The Bears also defeated the Rainbow Wahine (8-4) and Michigan (9-7) at Stanford, en route to a fourth place finish in the invitational. Breda Vosters had a nine-goal tournament, following a three-goal MPSF opener. Cal was off last week, in preparation for an MPSF home game vs. San Jose State, Feb. 18.
HAWAII (2-3 Overall/0-1 MPSF) placed fifth at the Stanford Invitational (Feb. 4-5) with wins over Michigan (7-5) and San Jose State (11-7), following a conference loss at California. The Rainbow Wahine received four goals apiece from Amarens Genee and Emily Scott in the placement victory over the Spartans. Scott combined for an eight-goal week, en route to newcomer of the week honors. Hawaii is off until it travels to USC in MPSF play on Feb. 23.
ALICIA BRIGHTWELL KAP 7 MPSF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Arizona State senior Alicia Brightwell (Sydney, Australia/Univ. of Sydney) led a championship at the Triton Invitational, scoring 12 goals in four games and helping ASU to a 12-0 record and best start in program history. She was the leading scorer in all four games, scoring three against CSU Bakersfield, two against #16 UC Santa Barbara, four against #12 Loyola Marymount in the semis, and three against #6 UC-Irvine in the finals.
Also Nominated: Amber Pezzolla (SDSU); Hannah Sebenaler (UCLA); Jillian Garton (STAN)
ANNA KERTES KAP 7 MPSF NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Arizona State freshman Anna Kertes (Csongrad, Hungary/Janos HS) scored three of her six UCSD Tournament goals in the 8-4 final win over #6 UC Irvine, all in the second half, and each coming right after UCI made it a two-goal game. Kertes owns 21 goals (1.75 GPG) on the year, tied for eighth in the conference.
Also Nominated: Taelor Moreno (SDSU); Ashley Grossman (STAN)