March 29, 2008

Tempe, Ariz. - The Pacific women's water polo team opened play at the Arizona State Invitation on Mar. 29 with a 17-9 loss to No. 7 Arizona State at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. With the loss, the Tigers fell to 4-18 on the year and 0-10 in MPSF play, while the Sun Devils advanced to 14-9 with the win and are now 4-4 in MPSF action.

Scoring goals for the Tigers in the loss were Dara Tawarahara (Honolulu, Hawaii), Kellie Fletcher (Roseville, Calif.), Alex Kutac (Houston, Texas), Virginia McConnell (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), and Bridget Geck (Huntington Beach, Calif.).

Tawarahara led the Tigers in scoring with four goals on the day, which tied Arizona State's Addison McGrath for the highest goal total in the contest. In addition to Tawarahara's four goals, Fletcher added two goals of her own and Kutac, McConnell, and Geck each scored once in the loss.

Senior Jocelyn Gray was in goal for the Tigers as she recorded a game-high 14 saves. The Sun Devil's Caylinn Wallace and Kaitlyn Morris split time in goal for Arizona State and combined to save ten shot attempts.

The Pacific women's water polo team will return to the pool at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center at 5:00 p.m. to take on Cal Baptist. They will take on UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino in the tournament tomorrow.

Arizona State: 5 - 5 - 6 - 1 = 17
Pacific: 1 - 4 - 1 - 3 = 9

Arizona State Goals: Addison McGrath - 4, Amanda Stepp - 3, Kelly Phelps - 2, Candice Phillippe - 2, Traci Aparicio - 2, Kari Walsh - 1, Bonnie Miles - 1, Lauren Hayes - 1, Katy Lawlor - 1

Pacific Goals: Dara Tawarahara - 4, Kellie Fletcher - 2, Alex Kutac - 1, Virginia McConnell - 1, Bridget Geck - 1

Arizona State Saves: Caylinn Wallace - 9, Kaitlyn Morris - 1

Pacific Saves: Jocelyn Gray - 14