(Photo: Jodi Vosika/ASU Lacrosse)
After coming off a tough 15-14 loss to Colorado on Friday, No. 2 Arizona State is looking to rebound Sunday against No. 3 Colorado State. It won’t be easy, as CSU enters the game riding high off of a 5-0 start and a 16-8 win against Simon Fraser on Saturday.
The Rams have not allowed more than eight goals in a game all season and they have found consistent offense in their sophomore attackman, Ashton Monheiser. Monheiser has scored at least two goals in every game so far this season, already surpassing his 2014 season total.
Another player to keep an eye on for CSU is freshman attackman Alec Womack. In a breakout game against Simon Fraser, Womack recorded a hat trick, finishing with five points. Prior to the yesterday’s game, he had just two goals on the season, but now is the right time for his emergence as the team plays in one of its toughest games of the season.
ASU currently sits at 4-1 overall on the campaign. Despite yesterday’s loss, the Sun Devils have had a steady stream of offensive production throughout the season. Against Colorado, sophomore attackman Rhett Rodgers recorded a hat trick and now has 12 goals on the season, which is second best. Rodgers has recorded a goal in every game so far this season, so he will definitely be a player the Rams’ defense will need to keep an eye on.
Also, senior midfielder Cooper Pickell is now third on the team in goals with eight. The assist now puts Pickell in double digits for the category. The CSU defense will need to be mindful not only of Pickell’s shot, but also of his ability to distribute.
Preseason Player of the Year Dan Davis is never a player to look past as an offensive threat, either. The senior attackman has been terrorizing defenses for years, but CSU has been his career kryptonite. Davis has only scored twice in the two games he’s played against the Rams.
Expect this one to come down to the wire, and the last team with possession could very well win the game. Both teams play team-oriented offense and solid defense, as evidenced by the lopsided results that the Rams and Sun Devils have garnered. Sunday’s game will be played at Reach 11 Sports Complex Field 14 in Phoenix, Arizona.
You can reach Michael Baron via email at michael.baron@asu.edu
