(Photo: Jodi Vosika/ASU Lacrosse)
The Arizona State University Sun Devil lacrosse team is getting set to take on the Colorado State Rams in the first round of the MCLA tournament at University of California at Irvine. This is the second time in less than a month these teams will play each other.
“Not a lot of teams get second chances,” said ASU senior captain Henry Archie. “We have a very big second chance right now, to get redemption at a lot of teams if we can make it past the first round.”
Redemption was a common theme among players at practice on Wednesday.
“Were all pretty excited and ready to get some redemption against them and show them that we are the better team,” said ASU junior midfielder Adam Beauchamp.
In their last match up, ASU fought back from getting down 5-2 early on. The Sun Devils come back was sparked by Beauchamp and sophomore midfielder Tommy Carasco and freshman attackman Jake Marthien made significant contributions combining for eight points, dishing two assists and racking up two goals each.
Since the last time these two teams have faced each other, ASU has had a 2-1 record, only losing to Chapman in the second round of the SLC tournament. Meanwhile, Colorado State went 1-2. Their most recent loss comes at the hands of BYU who also handed ASU a loss in March by a score of 8-7.
Keys To The Game:
Faceoffs
ASU has relied on their faceoff specialist, sophomore Zac Mathien all season and he hasn’t let them down, winning 71 percent of the faceoffs this year. Earning him all-conference accolades.
However, Colorado State has a faceoff specialist of its own sophomore Ryan Chamberlin who is leading his team winning 69 percent of faceoffs. Both players are relatively the same when it comes to statistics. It will be interesting to see which faceoff specialist can help give his team the edge.
Assists:
Being able to make effective clean passes at this point in the season is crucial for either team. Passing the ball with purpose and precision is strength of the Rams’ who have three players on their roster with over 12 assists. While the Sun Devils have improved this stat line dramatically throughout the course of their season, they still only have one player who has recorded double digit assists on the year.
Goalie Play
CSU’s junior goalie Jake Bender has a save percentage of 58 this year, and has racked up 133 saves this season alone.
ASU’s freshman goalie Johnny Perlite has a save-percentage of 61 and has 77 saves on the year. Perlite gives the Devils a spark, in their last three games with him between the pipes; they have only given up 20 goals compared to CSU who has given up 30.
However, Perlite was pulled in the middle of the last game against No. 1 Chapman, where junior Russel Bartle took his place, as he was the starter at the beginning of the season.
The spot has been an open book the entire season, so whoever ASU coach Todd MacRobbie decides to put in goal could be a huge factor in this game.
X-Factor: Patrick Haviland and Jake Marthens
ASU needs their dynamic freshman-scoring duo to come up big in this game. In their last three games Haviland has scored seven goals while Marthens has added five more. Haviland and Marthens offense will be the difference maker in the game for the Sun Devils.
Prediction:
ASU proved in the last matchup against CSU that they have what it takes to fight back. The Sun Devils are yet to lose two games in a row since having Johnny Perlite starting between the pipes. Having said that I believe that ASU will get the job done and beat the Rams 10-8.
