TEMPE, Ariz. – No. 22 Harvard women's water polo split its first two contests at the ASU Invitational II, falling to host No. 10 Arizona State (13-8, 1-1 MPSF) 14-13 before a 14-7 victory over Azusa Pacific (6-8). The Crimson moves to (15-4, 4-1 CWPA) on the season and will take on No. 25 Marist (12-8) tomorrow to close out the tournament.
 
Game 1: Arizona State 14, Harvard 13
Playing in its first game outdoors this season, the Crimson fell behind early, courtesy of a 3-0 run by the Sun Devils within the first 3:20 of the contest. The goals started to pour in at the end of the period with Inde Halligan, Brooke Hourigan and Evan Tingler pulling Harvard closer, as the Crimson trailed 5-3 through one. Both offenses continued to find their way, trading goals in the second period, as Arizona State refused to let the Crimson make it a one-goal game. A power-play goal just before the half from Grace Thawley made it a 9-7 advantage for the Sun Devils at the break.
 
It was the home side again getting the jump at the beginning of the half, scoring the first two goals to make it an 11-7 game with 6:10 to go in the third. Hourigan kept the Crimson within striking distance, depositing a six-on-five goal and a five-meter shot, making it a 13-9 Arizona State lead headed to the final period. After an early tally from Jaiden Miller, the deficit remained four goals for the Crimson with under four minutes remaining, at 14-10. Harvard refused to let Arizona State see the game out, with Dany Zapata and Hourigan quickly netting goals to make it a two-score game with 2:26 on the clock. Harvard was able to keep the Sun Devils off the scoresheet for the remainder of the game but was only able to finally cut it to a one-goal game with 12 seconds on the clock through Erin Kim, giving the Crimson its second one-goal defeat in as many weekends.
 
Harvard Highlights Game 1

• Sophomore Brooke Hourigan scored a game-high four goals to go along with two assists and a steal.
• Junior Jaiden Miller netted three goals while junior Evan Tingler added a pair.
• Junior Grace Thawley tallied a goal, assist, block, and two DKOs.

Game 2: Harvard 14, Azusa Pacific 7
After never seeing a lead in the morning, the Crimson would punish the Cougars of Azusa Pacific in the same manner, beginning with a goal from Grace Thawley just 15 seconds into the contest. Evan Tingler and Borden Wahl quickly made it 3-0 in Harvard's favor, while the first-year duo of Erin Kim and Kaity Greenwald each tallied a goal to make it a 5-1 game through the first period. Alexis Kieckhafer drew the start in goal, making 10 saves in the first half while allowing just three goals as Harvard took an 8-3 lead into the half.
 
Anne-Charlotte Gillard would replace Kieckhafer between the posts to begin the second half, as the first-year would go on to make five saves while shutting out the Cougars in the third period. Jaiden Miller and Quinne Pursell both tallied goals coming out of the half, while Greenwald's second of the game made it a comfortable 12-3 advantage for the Crimson through three periods. The Cougars would add four goals in the closing quarter, with late tallies from Zapata and Tingler capping off a 14-7 victory for Harvard.  
 
Harvard Highlights Game 2    

• Junior Evan Tingler scored a pair of goals to go along with an assist.
• The goalie tandem of sophomore Alexis Kieckhafer and first-year Anne-Charlotte Gillard totaled 15 saves on 22 shots faced.
• Senior Inde Halligan posted a game-high three steals while first-year Erin Kim paced the effort with two assists.
• Junior Borden Wahl plus first-years Kaity Greenwald and Dany Zapata each tallied two goals.

Game Notes

• Harvard improves to 3-1 this season in games following a defeat.
• The Crimson has dropped back-to-back one goal contests, after winning its first two one goal decisions this season.
• The defeat to Arizona State marked the first time this season that the Crimson has lost away from Blodgett Pool and is currently 10-1 outside of Cambridge.
• Harvard improves to 6-0 in netural site games this season and 2-0 all-time against Azusa Pacific.

What's Next? 
The Crimson will play one more contest at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center tomorrow, taking on No. 25 Marist at 9:00 a.m. MT/11:00 a.m. ET.