Lacrosse Travels to USC, Hosts UC Davis
Lacrosse Overpowers Cal with Balanced Offense | Clayton, Bonneau Sweep Pac-12 Weekly Honors | SDA Announces Limited Fan Attendance at Spring Events | 2021 Spring Sports - Fan Safety Protocols
TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Lacrosse finishes up a four-game road set with a trip to USC before returning home to host UC Davis in another action-packed weekend.
Arizona State (3-2) is in the midst of one of the toughest stretches in program history, as the matchup against No. 20 USC on Friday will represent the third Top-25 road opponent they have faced over the last four games. The game is scheduled for 3 pm MST McAlister Field.
Coach McCormack's team will make their long-awaited return to Tempe to host a non-conference matchup with UC Davis on Sunday. The 1 pm contest will take place at Sun Devil Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium, where the Sun Devils are 2-0 this season, outscoring opponents by a 45-16 margin.
KNOW YOUR FOES
No. 20 USC comes into Friday's contest with a 3-2 record, with their only two losses coming to Top-10 competition. The Trojans are led by Lindsey Munday, who is in her ninth season with the Women of Troy. She holds a 104-44 (.706) overall record with a 54-12 (.815) mark in league games. USC is coming off a postponed contest against Stanford on Sunday due to COVID developments within the program. They most recently defeated Cal in the Pac-12 opener on Friday by a final of 18-10.
The Trojans are led by Izzy McMahon, who has a team-leading 15 points. Sophia Donovan and Kelsey Huff each have 13 points a piece, while Ella Heaney has a team-best 12 goals. Goalkeeper Riley Hertford was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week two weeks ago and has started four of five games in net for the Trojans.
On Sunday the Sun Devils take on UC Davis for the second consecutive season, as Coach McCormack picked up his first career victory in a 16-12 road victory in last year's opener. The Aggies are off to a strong start this season, currently boasting a 5-2 record. They have already defeated two Pac-12 opponents in Oregon and Cal, along with common opponents Fresno State and San Diego State. Suzanne Isidor is in her fourth season in charge of the Aggies program.
Sorana Larson leads the team with 35 points through seven games, with Maddie Myers and Alex Agnew also eclipsing the 20-point mark. Goalkeeper Taylor Mathieson has started all seven games in net so far this season. UC Davis will make their first trip to Tempe.
*USC Athletic events are closed to the public due to COVID-19 policies.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"Kerri had a solid weekend," Coach McCormack said in reference to the performance o this attacker. "Not only did she produce but her movement without the ball and ability to get teammates open was just as impactful. She and the rest of the attack are doing an excellent job taking ownership in the system. They are playing free and having fun."
"Berkeley (Bonneau) continues to be our backbone," Coach McCormack observed. "When we have breakdowns she has been there to bail us out which is huge for the confidence of the team. Her ability to get the ball out and up field quickly has also helped produce goals at the other end in transition.
"It's always good to get recognition, but we still have one focus. Playing Sun Devil Lacrosse," Coach McCormack added. "This means playing as a team and enjoying every minute we have together. We are excited to get back out there this weekend."
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sun Devil Lacrosse swept the Pac-12 Player of the Week honors for the second time this season, the conference announced.
Kerri Clayton was selected as the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in her career, while Berkeley Bonneau earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week distinction for the third time as well. Arizona State has now had eight individuals received the top weekly conference honor in Head Coach Tim McCormack's two seasons, after previously only winning the award three times in the two prior seasons.
2021 PAC-12 LACROSSE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Defensive Player of the Week Offensive Player of the Week
Mar. 16 Berkeley Bonneau, ASU Kerri Clayton, ASU
Mar. 8 Riley Hertford, USC Carley Adams, ASU
Mar. 2 Anna Collawn, Colorado Ali Baiocco, Stanford
Feb. 23 Berkeley Bonneau, ASU Carley Adams, ASU
LAST TIME OUT
Sun Devil Lacrosse defeated California on the road, 21-11, to earn their first Pac-12 Conference win of the season.
Behind the strength of a 14-2 run, Arizona State overwhelmed the Golden Bears defense with a variety of offensive threats. Berkeley Bonneau and the Sun Devil defense allowed only one Cal goal in a 26-minute stretch, helping Coach McCormack's squad establish a lead they would never relinquish.
By the end of the afternoon, 11 different Sun Devils accounted for the 21 goals, with the opposition unable to contain the multitude of options. Kerri Clayton led the way with a vintage performance, recording seven points (four goals and three assists) while also causing havoc in the midfield with her pursuit. Emily Glagolev joined Clayton in scoring four goals, as she continues her history of success in Berkeley. Katie Brodsky operated the offense to perfection, dishing out four assists while also adding a goal of her own.
The unselfishness and talent of the Sun Devils' attacking unit was on full display, as 12 of the 21 goals were assisted. Arizona State controlled the midfield, finishing a perfect 20-for-20 on clear attempts while limiting Cal to just 13-of-17. The pressure defense applied by the Maroon & Gold forced Cal to commit 16 turnovers. Goalkeeper Berkeley Bonneau came up big when her team needed her, making several timely stops during a seven-save performance.
Sun Devil Lacrosse suffered a setback on the road in their Pac-12 opener against No. 19 Stanford at Stanford Stadium Friday evening.
It was fitting the contest took place on the Cardinal football field, as a physical affair developed between the two sides. Going toe-to-toe with Top-25 Stanford for the entire 60 minutes, the Sun Devils trimmed what was a six-goal lead to as little as three in the second half, but could not complete a valiant comeback effort. The 15-9 defeat (six goals) matched the smallest margin of defeat against a Top-25 opponent in program history.
Goalkeeper Berkeley Bonneau was up to her old tricks, keeping the Sun Devils in the game with several spectacular saves. She finished the evening with 13 saves, putting together yet another double-digit save effort. The Sun Devil defense showed flashes of brilliance, holding the Cardinal scoreless for multiple 5+-minute stretches throughout the game.
Arizona State's offense was led once again by Carley Adams, who has scored five or more goals in three of the first four games to start the 2021 season. Through four games, she is on an incredible pace with 19 goals, making a bid for another Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honor with another fantastic performance.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Arizona State concludes their four-game road trip in Los Angeles, taking on No. 20 USC. The game is scheduled for Friday, March 19 at 3 pm MST. The Trojans will be the third ranked road opponent for the Maroon & Gold in their last four games, with live stats available at the following link.
On Sunday, March 21 ASU returns to Sun Devil Lacrosse Stadium for a non-conference matchup with UC Davis. The Sun Devils take on the Aggies at 1 pm MST, with the game being broadcasted via live stream here and live stats provided at this link. Stay tuned for more details on the weekend.
*There has been an update in the Sun Devil Athletics fan attendance policy. For some of our smaller Olympic sport venues, student-athlete family and guest tickets remain the priority and we will accommodate additional fans the day of if we are not already at capacity.
Follow our Twitter and Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWLax) and like our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/sundevilwlax/) for in-game updates. Visit our website, TheSunDevils.com, for the latest news and information on the program.