Sun Devils take down the Lopes

(Photo: Allyson Cummings/WCSN)

Arizona State (14-0) came in to their highly anticipated showdown with Grand Canyon (10-3) ready to make a statement.

Rarely does the No. 1 ranked team in the MCLA find itself in a position with much to prove, but the Sun Devils entered Saturday’s game looking to avenge last year’s loss to their in-state rival and prove their worth as the best all-around team in the league.

They did just that, as a four-goal second quarter propelled the Sun Devils to a 13-9 victory over the No. 6 Lopes on senior day, clinching the top seed in the SLC tournament and capping off an undefeated regular season.

Senior attackman Justin Straker led the way for the Sun Devils with three goals, improving his season total to 33.

“There was no individual effort out there,” Straker said following the game, his last home contest at ASU. “We played as a team. We just had everyone going and playing with confidence.”

Sophomore midfielder Cooper Pickell notched the game’s first goal for ASU in the opening minute, yet a turnover gifted the Lopes with an opportuity to respond and sophomore attackman Drew Dziadyk capitalized with a goal to tie the game. Dziadyk would finish with five goals and now has 42 this season.

After a hotly contested first quarter that saw Arizona State come away with a 3-2 lead, the second quarter went more according to plan for the Sun Devils.

On an assist off the faceoff from junior Zack Handy, freshman attackman Landon Gagner scored just six seconds into the second quarter. His team kept rolling as Pickell, Gagner and Straker each scored to tally three more unanswered goals to help the maroon-and-gold cruise to a 7-3 halftime lead.

“(In the second quarter) it was all about staying focused and staying together,” senior midfielder Nick Hillier said after the win. “Once we get up on them, we gotta step on their throat and not let them breathe and we did that.”

After Straker’s second goal of the day came five minutes into the third quarter, Dziadyk did his best to keep the Lopes in the game as he sent two more goals by ASU senior keeper Chris DeLuca to cut the lead to 8-5, but the Sun Devils tacked on two more scores to finish off the third and reset the lead to five.

Both teams traded goals in the final quarter and the Lopes were unable to narrow the deficit to under 4 goals for the remainder of the way.

With emotions swirling after Arizona State’s nine seniors were honored before their last home game at ASU West Campus, Sun Devil head coach Chris Malone figured that the ceremony helped his team play inspired from the onset of the game.

“It’s a big game already, so you’re already jacked and ready to go, but then you add all of the senior day elements and that just gives you a little bit more energy and a little bit more juice,” Malone said after the win

The win earns the Sun Devils the top seed in the SLC tournament and a first-round bye, meaning they’ll have two weeks off before beginning tournament play. The break will offer a fresh breath of air and an opportunity to regroup.

“It’s a great feeling but we have more to do,” Hillier said. “It’s all about the (conference tournament) now. We’ll be there in two weeks ready to play.”

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