(Photo via Sam Volante/WCSN)
TEMPE – Arizona State Women’s Lacrosse experienced its most drastic pendulum swing of the season this weekend against the Bay Area schools.
Coming off its worst defensive performance of the season against Stanford on Friday – allowing a season-high 22 goals – the Sun Devils (4-8, 3-4 Pac-12) were able to regroup and put together their best defensive effort while allowing a season-low six goals against the Cal Golden Bears (3-10, 1-6 Pac-12). ASU head coach Taryn VanThof said after the Stanford game that the team lacked “emotional control” against the Cardinal, but it’s safe to say that the Sun Devils were able to find that on Sunday in a 15-6 victory over Cal.
“We talked a lot about discipline in the locker room and yesterday at practice,” VanThof said. “We played a solid three quarters against Stanford and went a little off track in that fourth. We talked about 60 minutes and I think we put together a pretty solid 60 minutes.”
The Sun Devils’ defense did not allow a shot attempt in the second quarter and were led by sophomore goalkeeper Katie Vahle’s six saves and a career-high .750 save percentage. The New York native only faced 8 shot attempts in the entire game.
While the defense was on lockdown, ASU’s offense also dominated the second and third quarters with an 8-0 run in those 30 minutes. The Sun Devils were able to score 10 unanswered goals in total to turn a 4-2 lead late in the first quarter to a 14-2 lead early in the fourth quarter, putting them in control for the rest of the game.
“Lacrosse is a game of momentum,” VanThof said. “If you keep it and hold on to it, you are going to make good things happen. In the locker room, we had to make sure – as excited as we were – we had to take a deep breath and reset for another 30 (minutes).”
ASU’s stout defense helped the offense produce 15 goals, the most since the season opener against St. Bonaventure on Feb. 18. Sophomore midfielder Berit Brookfield was the offensive catalyst with her second career hat trick.
“I felt great,” Brookfield said. “It was an awesome game out here on Easter. The team killed it. They had my back supporting me through everything and the coaching staff was phenomenal. It was a great day to come out and get a huge win.”
Brookfield was not the only player scoring goals for the Sun Devils though. Five different players scored in the first quarter and nine Sun Devils scored overall – with five of them having multiple goals – to give Cal’s defense headaches.
“In our offense, we talk about seven threats,” VanThof said. “All day, every day. We’re never going to get it done with just one or two. We have to make sure that all seven are a threat at any given moment and to have nine is a beautiful thing.”
With the win, the Sun Devils finish the home weekend with a split against the northern California schools and now prepare for a road trip to Oregon and Colorado next weekend. Despite only having one road win on the season, ASU still has a sense of confidence that it can compete with anyone.
“Overall, morale was great today and I’m excited for what next weekend holds,” Brookfield said. “We proved to ourselves and to everyone in the Pac-12 that we’re capable of beating some really good teams and I’m excited for next weekend to prove to everyone else.”
