Takeaways from Sun Devils’ midweek rout of Detroit Mercy

(Photo: Zina Garcia/WCSN)

Non-conference games to split up Pac-12 action can make all the difference in the heart of the season, and for Arizona State women’s lacrosse, it presented an opportunity to get back in the win column, after back-to-back losses against ranked opponents Southern California and Stanford.

Tuesday presented a midweek contest in the Motor City as the Sun Devils (6-6, 1-2) took on Detroit Mercy (3-9, 2-1) for their penultimate non-conference matchup. Despite losing eight straight games to kick off its 2024 campaign, Detroit Mercy was on a three-game winning streak going into Tuesday, with two wins being in the Mid-American Conference.

For head coach Taryn VanThof and her team that didn’t deter them from playing with confidence as ASU smashed the Titans 17-3 in a contest that was over before it started. Here are three takeaways from the dominant performance.

No Mercy for Mercy

The Sun Devils started the game ruthlessly, scoring 11 first-quarter goals from seven different players, the most they’ve tailed in a single period all season. The matchup felt over before it even got underway as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the opening five minutes, and dominance was needed after consecutive conference losses.

ASU’s hot start was not just on the offensive side of the game either, as Detroit Mercy had zero first-quarter shot attempts and lost all eleven draw controls to. In all facets of the game, it was clear which team was going to take home the victory from the opening faceoff.

Confidence brewing

Nine Sun Devils scored on Tuesday afternoon the most since their season-opening win over Xavier when they tailed 21 goals as a unit. After scoring less than 10 goals against both USC and Stanford the influx of goals for the entire squad may breed confidence going forward.

Some players who have had impressive campaigns continued their hot streaks. Sophmore forward Lydia Oldknow has the most points for ASU this season with 38, she added two goals and three assists to her tally in Tuesday’s thrashing.

Two attackers — graduate Shannon Urey and sophomore Teegan Ng — netted three goals each, both have produced solid output thus far with over 15 goals apiece, and Urey leads ASU in assists with nine. Yet they’ve combined for just three goals over the two Pac-12 losses, so Tuesday provided a chance to regain momentum.

Setting up the final stretch

ASU has five regular season games remaining with four being Pac-12 contests. Currently at 1-2 in league play, they are sixth in the conference, yet the most difficult stretch of its season is now behind them. It is currently 0-5 this year against ranked opponents, and the remainder of the schedule has no top-25 teams left to play.

The next matchup for the Sun Devils comes on Saturday when they host California in Tempe. Currently seventh in the conference and coming off a narrow loss to USC, all the cards predict a tightly-contested affair with both these teams fighting to jump the standings in the Pac-12, and after Tuesday it’s the Sun Devils who come into Saturday with momentum on their side.