(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
The Arizona State women’s lacrosse team has struggled in Pac-12 play this season, and Sunday’s 16-3 loss to No. 18 Colorado exemplified the Sun Devils’ woes.
The Buffaloes (9-4, 7-1 Pac-12) shut out the Sun Devils (6-10, 1-8 Pac-12) for the majority of the first half, who did not score a goal until freshman Maria Villanti’s tally 18 minutes into the game.
“We have some work to do at the draw circle as well as on the offensive end,” said head coach Courtney Martinez Connor in a release.
The Sun Devils’ defense struggled early on, allowing the first goal of the match in just 59 seconds. The Buffaloes followed their aggressive offense with an 8-0 run, the first of two such scoring streaks on Sunday.
The lack of offense continues to hurt Arizona State. The Sun Devils generated only 10 shots on the goal, a fraction compared to Colorado’s 42 shots.
Arizona State also surrendered 14 turnovers compared to Colorado’s eight.
Sophomore goalkeeper Berkekley Bonneau recorded 13 saves in 53 minutes with nine coming in the first half.
“Our defense played tough and with intensity,” Martinez Connor added.
Freshman Julia Burns recorded her 10th goal of the season in the second half before the Buffaloes responded with their second eight-goal run, which wasn’t snapped until attacker Kerri Clayton assisted midfielder Kylie Kroeger’s goal with 3:48 left in the game.
Colorado midfielder Miranda Stinson stole the show on Sunday, recording five goals and an assist to rack up six total points, but it truly was a team effort as nine different Buffaloes scored goals.
The Sun Devils lost the draw control battle, only scoring possession on four out of 21 chances, forcing them to dig deep and defend for the majority of the game.
— J.J. Santos
FRIDAY NIGHT RECAP: Oregon 21, ASU 8
The Sun Devils fell to the Oregon Ducks, 21-8 on Friday evening in Eugene, Oregon.
After freshman Kate Dougherty opened the scoring, Oregon (7-5, 3-3 Pac-12) answered with 14 straight goals early in the first half and led 17-3 at halftime.
“It was definitely a tough game and there were some bright moments but we have to refocus for Sunday as we continue to play in one of the top conferences in the nation to close the season,” said head coach Courtney Martinez Connor
Despite the early struggles, sophomore goalkeeper Berkeley Bonneau led the team with four ground balls while freshman defender Lia Willis recorded a career-high three draw controls.
Freshmen Daniela Wright and Maria Villanti scored ASU’s two other first-half goals before Kylie Kroeger, Carley Adams, Graci Fulkerson, Dougherty and Wright rounded out the Sun Devils’ scoring in the second half.
Though she didn’t score, freshman attacker Emily Glagolev recorded two assists. Julia Burns had the only other Sun Devils’ helper.
— Jenna Dietz
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils have a bye week next week before finishing off the regular season at home against the USC Trojans (Saturday, April 21, 11 a.m. MST).
