(Photo: Jodi Vosika/ASU Lacrosse)
The Arizona State Sun Devil Lacrosse team took on the Colorado State Rams in the opening round of the MCLA Tournament. “Survive and advance,” the motto of every single game elimination tournament, and that exactly what ASU did on Monday night, as they beat CSU 8-7.
ASU had a different mentality going in to what could have been its final quarter of the season. The Rams sideline was completely silent, where as ASU’s players could be heard form many playing fields over.
This one came down to the last ten seconds. With three minutes to go ASU was up two goals- and felt a false sense of security, that’s when they let up, allowing Colorado to score making it yet again a one-goal game.
It was none other then ASU’s freshman goalie Johnny Perlite who made the save to make CSU’s last chance effort to send the game to overtime unsuccessful.
“I was just focused on that ball,” Perlite said. “It was a do or die moment so I just had to make that save.”
Perlite was solid for the entire game, but started hot in the first as he had already racked up four saves when the score was still 1-0 ASU.
The second quarter was steady as CSU racked up two goals early, and ASU answered back with another one, tying the game at two going into half time.
“We knew it was a 0-0 game coming out of the half,” said Perlite. “Everyone just needed to do what they needed to do.”
The second half was a back and fourth. Both teams traded goals at the beginning of the quarter to keep it even up at three. The end of the third quarter is when ASU exerted their dominance, scoring back to back to back goals two of which came from freshman attackman Patrick Haviland. This influx of offense gave ASU a 6-3 lead.
CSU would not throw the towel in early, they came roaring back to get it with in one going into the fourth quarter, however still came up short.
Player of the Game:
Johnny Perlite – the freshman goalie was able to keep his composure late in the game when his team needed him most making a save with ten seconds left in the game that had to potential to send the game to overtime, and totaling 13 saves on top of that.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils will face No. 1 Chapman tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the semi-finals of the MCLA Tournament.
