Fresno State Athletics
Friday, February 6
Tempe, AZ
5 p.m. PT
Fresno State
11
at
13
No. 6 Arizona State
Players Mentioned
Attacker/Defender
/ Water Polo
Attacker
/ Water Polo
Attacker
/ Water Polo
Attacker
/ Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Water Polo
Attacker
/ Water Polo
Defender
/ Water Polo
Photo by: JACQUELUNE CARRILLO
@JCMEEDJA
Comeback falls short against No. 6 Arizona State
2/6/2026 6:31:00 PM | Water Polo
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 10 Fresno State water polo team opened the ASU Invitational with a 13-11 loss to No. 6 Arizona State. Fresno State moves to 5-4 on the season and 0-2 in true road games.
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The Bulldogs were stunted by a scoreless second quarter, making the second-half comeback attempt difficult. The Bulldogs also struggled in their 6-on-5 opportunities, scoring on just two of their 12 for the night while Arizona State converted on 5-of-9.
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Fresno State was led in scoring by freshman Charley Stephens with a season-high four goals, on four shots. Susanna Martinez and Kira Anderson also posted two goals apiece. Hailey Andress, Marit van der Kolk, and Riaan Bryant each scored one.
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How it happened
Fresno State scored first as Kira Anderson lobbed a mid-range goal with 5:45 left in the first quarter. Arizona State tied the game not long after, and the Bulldogs saw two failed 6-on-5 chances on the ensuing possessions. Opposite to that, Arizona State took advantage of their first powerplay chance and took a 2-1 lead with four minutes on the clock. Riaan Bryant tied the game at two off a penalty shot. Another penalty shot on the next Bulldog possession would give the 'Dogs a short lead as Hailey Andress converted. With under a minute to go in the first, the Sun Devils converted another 6-on-5 opportunity to tie the game at three after the first quarter.
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The Sun Devils struck first in the second quarter, scoring a breakaway goal with 6:12 on the clock. ASU went on to score two more unanswered goals to take a 6-3 lead and force a Bulldog timeout with 4:55 remaining in the half. Arizona State scored two more to end the half, while the Bulldogs were unable to score. ASU led 8-3 at halftime.
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Anderson ended the Bulldogs' scoring drought with 5:22 left in the third quarter, making it a 9-4 game in favor of the Sun Devils. Arizona State responded quickly, taking a 10-4 lead off another powerplay chance.
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An offensive run ignited as Charley Stephens converted on a 6-on-5 opportunity with 3:58 left in the third quarter for the Bulldogs' fifth goal of the game and first powerplay score of the night. Fresno State got into an offensive groove as Susanna Martinez fired for her first goal of the night and second-straight for the 'Dogs. Marit van der Kolk and Stephens would each score to extend the Bulldogs' scoring run to four unanswered, bringing the score to a two-goal game, 10-8.
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Arizona State added a goal on a penalty shot to take an 11-8 lead into the fourth quarter.
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With just under five minutes to go, Charli Munoz found Stephens for her third goal of the night. Fresno State trailed 12-9 before Arizona State took the goal back on its next possession to make it a 13-9 game with 4:38 remaining. Stephens scored her fourth goal of the game, keeping Fresno State in the game late as the 'Dogs trailed 13-10 with two and a half minutes on the clock.
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Katelyn Mobley came up with a big save, and Fresno State called a timeout with 2:18 left in regulation. The Bulldogs added another goal by Martinez with 13 seconds remaining, but would fall 13-11 to the Sun Devils in the opening game of the ASU Invitational.
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Up Next
Fresno State will face UC Santa Barbara tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. PT and Cal Lutheran at 3:15 p.m. PT on day two of the ASU Invitational.
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The Bulldogs were stunted by a scoreless second quarter, making the second-half comeback attempt difficult. The Bulldogs also struggled in their 6-on-5 opportunities, scoring on just two of their 12 for the night while Arizona State converted on 5-of-9.
Â
Fresno State was led in scoring by freshman Charley Stephens with a season-high four goals, on four shots. Susanna Martinez and Kira Anderson also posted two goals apiece. Hailey Andress, Marit van der Kolk, and Riaan Bryant each scored one.
Â
How it happened
Fresno State scored first as Kira Anderson lobbed a mid-range goal with 5:45 left in the first quarter. Arizona State tied the game not long after, and the Bulldogs saw two failed 6-on-5 chances on the ensuing possessions. Opposite to that, Arizona State took advantage of their first powerplay chance and took a 2-1 lead with four minutes on the clock. Riaan Bryant tied the game at two off a penalty shot. Another penalty shot on the next Bulldog possession would give the 'Dogs a short lead as Hailey Andress converted. With under a minute to go in the first, the Sun Devils converted another 6-on-5 opportunity to tie the game at three after the first quarter.
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The Sun Devils struck first in the second quarter, scoring a breakaway goal with 6:12 on the clock. ASU went on to score two more unanswered goals to take a 6-3 lead and force a Bulldog timeout with 4:55 remaining in the half. Arizona State scored two more to end the half, while the Bulldogs were unable to score. ASU led 8-3 at halftime.
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Anderson ended the Bulldogs' scoring drought with 5:22 left in the third quarter, making it a 9-4 game in favor of the Sun Devils. Arizona State responded quickly, taking a 10-4 lead off another powerplay chance.
Â
An offensive run ignited as Charley Stephens converted on a 6-on-5 opportunity with 3:58 left in the third quarter for the Bulldogs' fifth goal of the game and first powerplay score of the night. Fresno State got into an offensive groove as Susanna Martinez fired for her first goal of the night and second-straight for the 'Dogs. Marit van der Kolk and Stephens would each score to extend the Bulldogs' scoring run to four unanswered, bringing the score to a two-goal game, 10-8.
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Arizona State added a goal on a penalty shot to take an 11-8 lead into the fourth quarter.
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With just under five minutes to go, Charli Munoz found Stephens for her third goal of the night. Fresno State trailed 12-9 before Arizona State took the goal back on its next possession to make it a 13-9 game with 4:38 remaining. Stephens scored her fourth goal of the game, keeping Fresno State in the game late as the 'Dogs trailed 13-10 with two and a half minutes on the clock.
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Katelyn Mobley came up with a big save, and Fresno State called a timeout with 2:18 left in regulation. The Bulldogs added another goal by Martinez with 13 seconds remaining, but would fall 13-11 to the Sun Devils in the opening game of the ASU Invitational.
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Up Next
Fresno State will face UC Santa Barbara tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. PT and Cal Lutheran at 3:15 p.m. PT on day two of the ASU Invitational.
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