ASU Women’s Lacrosse: Sun Devils lose first game of season to No. 3 Northwestern in McCormack’s return to Evanston

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

On the road again for the third straight game, ASU women’s lacrosse (2-1) lost its first game of the 2020 season to No. 3 Northwestern (3-1) in Evanston by a final score of 28-12.

Despite the loss, they continued to fight until the game ended, scoring four of their five second-half goals in the final minutes of the game. The game started with eight goals for Northwestern, putting them at an 8-0 lead, until ASU’s freshman Anna Winkeler scored off an assisted by Taylor Carson to put a number on the scoreboard. From there, ASU scored three of their next goals in less than a two minute time span.

Off of the bench, freshman goalkeeper Lindsey Spies came in midway through the first half and did not disappoint. No one could tell by her five incredible saves that she was a freshman. The game for the Sun Devils was out of reach before going into the second half 23-7, but that did not keep them from scoring. ASU’s Lia Willis recorded her first multi-goal game as a Sun Devil to get her team on the board in the second half, 24-8. Emily Glagolev’s six-point effort wasn’t enough compensation to put them over Northwestern.

On the other hand, Northwestern’s Izzy Scane scored another hat trick to add to her season total.

Even though the Sun Devils fell short to Northwestern, ASU head coach Tim McCormack caught up with familiar faces and his former players. He was a former assistant coach in Evanston and had mentioned a “bittersweet” feeling when he received a ring in honor of the 2019 Big Ten Tournament Champion Northwestern team as a part of the pregame ceremony.

There were a lot of firsts in this game for both teams and more to come for the season. ASU will remain away for its next game on February 20, at San Diego State at 2:00 p.m. MST.