Katie Vahle Earns Second Pac-12 Defender of the Week Honor
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Sun Devil Lacrosse earned a Pac-12 Player of the Week honor for the second time this season, the conference announced on Monday.
Katie Vahle was selected as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week for the second time, only five games into her young career. Arizona State has now had 15 individuals receive the top weekly conference honor in Head Coach Tim McCormack's three seasons, after previously only winning an award three times in the two prior seasons.
The program carries over the momentum from last season, where they were the most decorated team when it came to weekly honors. Of the possible 20 recipients of a Pac-12 Player of the Week award in 2021, ten were Sun Devils. ASU earned seven offensive and three defensive player of the week selections last season and are now building their total in 2022.
Katie Vahle – Defensive Player of the Week
Sun Devil true freshman goalkeeper Katie Vahle continues to play at a high level, going 2-0 this weekend in net to start Pac-12 play. It is the first time in program history that ASU has started 2-0 in conference, thanks in large part to the efforts of Vahle.
"Katie Vahle was tremendous for us this weekend," Coach McCormack remarked. "She has provided a stabilizing presence in the cage."
In Friday's win over Oregon, Vahle registered 10 saves, while allowing only nine goals. She also collected three ground balls and caused a turnover as the Sun Devils needed a great defensive effort in the 11-9 win.
"She communicates extremely well with her teammates and isn't afraid to take charge," Coach McCormack added. "The rest of the team has provided a ton of support, which has been special to watch."
On Sunday, Vahle and company claimed only the second victory over a Top-25 team in program history, defeating No. 23 Colorado in impressive fashion. In her 49:28 of playing time, Vahle allowed only five goals, while making six saves. The six goals by the Buffaloes were the fewest they had scored on an unranked team since a loss to Cal back in their inaugural 2014 season. She also added four ground balls and a caused turnover, showing off her all-around game.
PEER REVIEW
When asked about what impressed her the most about Katie Vahle so far during her freshman season, team captain Carley Adams had high praise for her teammate.
"I'm the oldest on the team and Vahle is the youngest on the team and I look up to her as an athlete in so many ways. She's is extremely confident in the cage (and all over the field) because of how she prepares everyday."
Vahle makes difficult saves look routine and impossible saves possible, brining Sun Devil fans to their feet on several occasions during this three-game home stretch. The fans aren't the only ones pumped up by the effort of the freshman goalkeeper, as Adams recognize it has an effect on the team.
"Seeing her make those types of plays in games fires everyone up and helps us transition the ball into offense with even more confidence, but it is also to be expected coming from her. She plays every practice likes it's game day so seeing her make a save with her elbow or big toe is kind of the Katie Vahle standard. She's unlike any other goalie out there."
SUN DEVILS TO WIN PAC-12 PLAYER OF THE WEEK (18)
Katie Vahle (3/14/22) – Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
Katie Vahle (3/1/22) – Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
Kerri Clayton (4/26/21) – Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Olivia Hood (4/19/21) – Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
Emily Glagolev (3/29/21) – Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Kerri Clayton (3/23/21) – Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Berkeley Bonneau (3/23/21) – Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
Kerri Clayton (3/15/21) – Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Berkeley Bonneau (3/15/21) – Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
Carley Adams (3/8/21) – Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Berkeley Bonneau (2/23/21) – Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
Carley Adams (2/23/21) – Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Kerri Clayton (3/2/20) – Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Berkeley Bonneau (3/2/20) – Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
Emily Glagolev (2/17/20) – Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Emily Glagolev (4/22/19) – Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Kerri Clayton (4/8/19) – Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Kaylon Buckner (2/12/19) – Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week
2022 PAC-12 LACROSSE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offensive Player of the Week Defensive Player of the Week
Feb. 16 Ashley Humphrey, Stanford Kait Devir, USC
Feb. 22 Shelby Tilton, USC Kait Devir, USC
Mar. 1 Sadie Grozier, Colorado Katie Vahle, Arizona State
Mar. 8 Chloe Willard, Colorado Devon Bayer, Colorado
Mar. 14 Kelsey Huff, USC Katie Vahle, Arizona State
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils hit the road for a three-game stretch, continuing Pac-12 Conference play. A huge test awaits on Friday, Mar. 18, when ASU travels to defending Pac-12 Regular Season and Tournament Champions Stanford. The game will be broadcasted on the Stanford Live Stream, with live stats provided here. Arizona State will be looking for their second straight Top-25 win, as the Cardinal were ranked last week. Stanford is the lone remaining Pac-12 team that Arizona State has not beaten under Coach McCormack.
The Bay Area trip continues with a Sunday, Mar. 20 matchup with California, a team the Sun Devils defeated twice last season. The game will be broadcasted on Pac-12 Regional Bay Area Network and the Pac-12 Now App, with more information available here. Rounding out the road trip is a showdown with USC on Friday, Mar. 25.
HOW TO FOLLOW
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