(Photo: Jodi Vosika/ASU Lacrosse)
Arizona State goalie Chris Roufanis, a Long Island native and sophomore starter after a year of backing up Chris DeLuca in 2014. He’s more than just a starter, though – for the Sun Devils, he’s literally the only option, the only rostered goalie on the team. The workload for Roufanis this season will be tremendous as the Sun Devils begin preparing for perhaps another run toward the MCLA tournament.
“It’s going to be added pressure that I’m going to be the guy starting,” Roufanis said. The added concern is over what would happen in the case of an injury. The sophomore was quick to dismiss that notion, though.“Getting injured is not an option.”
Staying healthy throughout the season will be paramount for the ASU goalie, but he’ll still need to perform well to become the Sun Devils’ first long-term option in front of the cage since Dylan Westfall (a two-time First Team All-American) graduated in 2012.
“I’m definitely going to have to step up with a younger team,” Roufanis said. “I’m going to have to show them how to do things, along with (defenseman) Ryan Berns, the captain.”
The second-year goalie has his own unique blend of goaltending styles, and his talents will be put to the test against the top-tier competition scheduled ahead for the Sun Devils.
“I play a flatter crease and I slide mostly horizontally side-to-side,” Roufanis said. He also emphasized the importance of constant improvement in every facet of the game. “Being a better team player, being faster, being quicker, catching and throwing. Everything can get you better.”
New head coach Joseph Thon has inherited a tricky situation at goalie, but he expressed confidence in Roufanis.
“It’s going to be a challenge obviously, but to be honest I’m not gonna approach it any differently,” Thon said. “Because if you start to coddle the kid, he could get injured. You gotta let it ride out. It sucks and is not an ideal situation, but we’ve got two guys that are on the practice squad so we have three guys that we can use in practice so Chris gets injured or takes a shot during the game and needs to take a breather the following practice, we’ve got enough guys on the practice squad to be able to do that.”
Roufanis has already developed a fondness for Thon.
“He has definitely made me work harder,” Roufanis said. “Everyone is more positive. This year…everyone is excited to come [to practice]. It’s nice.”
Roufanis, only a year after being a full-time back-up to DeLuca, will be the team’s lone option for the foreseeable future. His first career start will come during the Sun Devils’ season opener against Cal on Feb. 14.
