BOULDER, Colo. – The Arizona State lacrosse team (6-12, 1-10 Pac-12) put a cap on a historic inaugural season Thursday evening in the quarterfinals of the inaugural Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse Tournament. The Sun Devils ultimately fell to the No. 20 USC Trojans, 19-7.
"It was an exciting time to experience another first with our team at the inaugural conference championship tournament," said head coach Courtney Martinez Connor. "I think we came out with a lot of intensity and determination. I was super proud of the quick start we had and that we were overcame some adversity after going down by a couple goals. Unfortunately, the outcome isn't what we would've hoped for but I think our team battled the entire game which is what we ask of them."
The No. 6 seed Sun Devils were dominant on all sides of the ball in the first half, building an early 3-0 lead over the No. 3 seed Trojan from the all-freshmen trio of Maria Villanti, Emily Glagolev and Kate Dougherty.
USC fought back scoring the next five goals, but the Sun Devils never quit and brought it back even with back-to-back free position goals from Villanti and junior co-captain Kerri Clayton.
Once again the Trojans went up two before another free position goal by Clayton and a pass from Glagolev to Dougherty tied the game, 7-7, with just under nine minutes to play in the half.
The nationally-ranked Trojans took control of the rest of the game to move onto the semifinal match-up against No. 2 seed Stanford.
Villanti led the Sun Devils on offense with a career high three points (two goals, one assist). She also picked up a career high four ground balls.
Defensively, goalkeeper Berkeley Bonneau had 13 saves. The sophomore totaled a program record nine games with double-digit saves.
Freshmen Erin Dibernardo and Lia Willis each recorded three draw controls.
The Sun Devils close their first season as a varsity sport with a program record six wins, including the thrilling 12-11 win at Cal in overtime. Clayton recorded a team-high 44 goals and 15 assists for a program record 59 points while Bonneau finished with 155 total saves.
"We had so many bright spots this season," Martinez Connor added. "Our girls showed resiliency time and time again. To have the toughest schedule for a first year program with the amount of travel we did and the amount of ranked opponents we played it will only help give us that invaluable experience and growth for future. I couldn't be more proud of the girls and where the future of Sun Devil Lacrosse is going."
"It was an exciting time to experience another first with our team at the inaugural conference championship tournament," said head coach Courtney Martinez Connor. "I think we came out with a lot of intensity and determination. I was super proud of the quick start we had and that we were overcame some adversity after going down by a couple goals. Unfortunately, the outcome isn't what we would've hoped for but I think our team battled the entire game which is what we ask of them."
The No. 6 seed Sun Devils were dominant on all sides of the ball in the first half, building an early 3-0 lead over the No. 3 seed Trojan from the all-freshmen trio of Maria Villanti, Emily Glagolev and Kate Dougherty.
USC fought back scoring the next five goals, but the Sun Devils never quit and brought it back even with back-to-back free position goals from Villanti and junior co-captain Kerri Clayton.
TIE GAME! ??
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) April 26, 2018
Kerri Clayton's 43rd goal couldn't have come at a better time for @SunDevilWLax.
Watch #Pac12Lax: https://t.co/ZhZuI5ezsa pic.twitter.com/NwvwgMck8H
Once again the Trojans went up two before another free position goal by Clayton and a pass from Glagolev to Dougherty tied the game, 7-7, with just under nine minutes to play in the half.
Tie. Game. ??????
— Sun Devil Lacrosse (@SunDevilWLax) April 26, 2018
Emily Glagolev to Kate Dougherty ties this one at 7 with 8:51 left to play in the first half. #SunDevilSpark pic.twitter.com/uqp9SUKg9n
The nationally-ranked Trojans took control of the rest of the game to move onto the semifinal match-up against No. 2 seed Stanford.
Villanti led the Sun Devils on offense with a career high three points (two goals, one assist). She also picked up a career high four ground balls.
Defensively, goalkeeper Berkeley Bonneau had 13 saves. The sophomore totaled a program record nine games with double-digit saves.
Freshmen Erin Dibernardo and Lia Willis each recorded three draw controls.
The Sun Devils close their first season as a varsity sport with a program record six wins, including the thrilling 12-11 win at Cal in overtime. Clayton recorded a team-high 44 goals and 15 assists for a program record 59 points while Bonneau finished with 155 total saves.
"We had so many bright spots this season," Martinez Connor added. "Our girls showed resiliency time and time again. To have the toughest schedule for a first year program with the amount of travel we did and the amount of ranked opponents we played it will only help give us that invaluable experience and growth for future. I couldn't be more proud of the girls and where the future of Sun Devil Lacrosse is going."