ASU Women’s Lacrosse: Sun Devils survive scare to open season

(Photo via Xavier Litman/WCSN)

Behind sophomore attackers Fiona McGovern and Jessica Notaro combining for 10 goals for St. Bonaventure, the Bonnies gave Arizona State Women’s Lacrosse a scare in its season opener and the debut for head coach Taryn VanThof.

The Bonnies nearly mounted an unfathomable comeback due in large part to McGovern scoring three goals in the span of three minutes to close out the game. The sophomore already had a hat trick before the hot streak, and her six goals led all scorers for both teams.

It seemed certain that the Sun Devils would dominate the Bonnies, as they held a 16-8 lead with 8 minutes left. St. Bonaventure would score 5 unanswered goals, but it was too little too late as ASU won 16-13, led by a balanced scoring attack with five Sun Devils scoring multiple goals.

ASU graduate midfielder Kaylon Buckner said postgame that she was still confident in her squad despite the late push from the Bonnies.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” Buckner said. “I really wasn’t nervous. Going back in there, I knew that one draw was super important, that we needed that one. Yeah, so not too nervous.”

The Sun Devils pulled out the victory after building a big enough cushion of insurance goals to stave off a potential comeback. Buckner was one of three players to score hat tricks, while two others also had multiple goals in the game.

VanThof talked about the importance of having a variety of volume scorers in the win.

“I think that’s credit to the team,” VanThof said. “Credit to the unit. We talk about the seven of them. Any given one has to be a threat and has to be able to put the ball in the back of the net. It’s just somebody’s day some days and others for other days. They’re all going to step up at any given moment.”

Freshman attacker Teagan Ng – who made her collegiate debut Saturday night – was one of the other Sun Devils with a hat trick. Ng was one of two freshmen to start for ASU.

Another head-turner was seeing junior goalkeeper Flynn Murphy start the game. Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Vahle had a stellar freshman season last year as the starter, earning Pac-12 Conference Defender of the Week four times. But VanThof gave the nod to Murphy, who had four saves on the night.

These were some of the important decisions that VanThof had to make in her first game as head coach. VanThof talked about the emotions of getting her first victory in her coaching career.

“I think we talked yesterday about family and energy and what that means to us,” VanThof said. “I think that’s what today was. We pulled it together as a unit and really brought it on the sidelines and on the field in terms of what energy means.”

The Sun Devils will now shift their focus ahead to a six-game road trip spanning from Feb. 24 – March 17. Buckner talked about what ASU can take away from the opening win for the upcoming road stretch.

“For offense, we can definitely focus on controlling the ball more,” Buckner said. “Just containing our ball control and not making the stupid turnovers. Being smart about the ball. Just working it. Taking time off the clock and working as a team a little more.”