TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devil lacrosse program prepares to embark on their second season at the Division I level as they will compete in four different fall tournaments over two weekends from October 6-21, culminating in the Sun Devils' annual Maroon & Gold Scrimmage on Sunday, October 28th at 12:00 P.M.
While the fall games won't count towards their 2019 record, it is a good chance for a youthful squad to earn some valuable experience against high-level programs in both a road and neutral site atmosphere. The following is a breakdown of Sun Devil lacrosse's fall schedule:
NAVY FALL INVITATIONAL (10/6) For the second consecutive season, Arizona State will travel to Annapolis, Md. for their first stop of the fall competition schedule at the Navy Fall Invitational on October 6, hosted by the United States Naval Academy. Arizona State plays in four abbreviated games, scheduled to run for 45 minutes each. This format gives the team an opportunity to compete in multiple games during the one-day invitational. The Sun Devils start off with the Towson Tigers, who finished No. 9 in the final IWLCA Coaches Poll after tying a school-record with 16 wins. The first game is scheduled for a 2 P.M. (MST) faceoff on the Rip Miller Turf. Later in the afternoon, the Sun Devils stay on Rip Miller Turf to take on Temple at 4 P.M. The Owls finished 2018 with a 9-8 record competing in the prestigious Big East Conference. Immediately after the contest against the Owls, the Sun Devils will turn around to face invitational host Navy at 5 P.M. The Midshipmen are coming off a historic season which ended in an NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals loss to No. 1 seed Maryland. Navy picked up 18 wins last season and figures to be an early measuring stick for a young Arizona State squad. In their fourth and final matchup of the one-day invitational, the Sun Devils switch over to Farragut Turf to take on St. Joseph's at 7 P.M. The Hawks have recorded double-digit wins in consecutive seasons, finishing the 2018 campaign with a 12-7 record. The combined 2018 record of Arizona State's four opponents at the Navy Fall Invitational is 55-24, giving the team a chance to gauge where they are in comparison to some of the most competitive programs in the country.
Coach Martinez Connor's take: "I couldn't have asked for a better tournament to start the fall season. The strength of competition will test our players and I am excited to see how they respond. We are excited to be a part of such a prestigious event."
JOHNS HOPKINS INVITATIONAL (10/7) A quick turnaround after a day full of action at the Navy Fall Invitational has the Sun Devils staying in the state of Maryland to compete in the Johns Hopkins Invitational. This is the 8th annual "Stick it to Sarcoma" event, a fall ball tournament where all proceeds benefit the Sarcoma Program at Johns Hopkins. Two members of the 2018 NCAA Final Four are competing at the Invitational, giving the Sun Devils another chance to face some of the nation's top competition. In a similar format to the Navy Fall Invitational, the games are scheduled an hour apart and are capped at 45 minutes. The Sun Devils get a test against the best, as they take on 2018 National Champion James Madison in their first matchup at 11 A.M. (MST) at Homewood Field in Baltimore. At 1 P.M, Arizona State will take on another worthy opponent in 2018 NCAA Tournament Participant, and tournament host, Johns Hopkins. Wrapping up the afternoon, the Sun Devils will take on the Drexel Dragons at 3 P.M. New Arizona State Assistant Coach Caroline Fitzgerald spent last season on the Dragons' coaching staff.
Coach Martinez Connor's take: "We are taking on the challenge of playing two tournaments in one weekend and I will be interested to see how our players compete. The Johns Hopkins Invitational will be an early test for our program's resiliency and focus. We look forward to competing against some of the elite programs in the sport."
STANFORD PLAYDAY (10/20) After enjoying a weekend off after the Johns Hopkins Invitational, the Sun Devils continue their fall schedule in familiar territory, as they head to the Stanford Playday. Hosted by the Stanford Cardinal, the games will be in 45-minute format that is common in fall tournaments. Two fields will be used on Stanford's campus, with the action rotating between Johnson Turf and the South Intramural Fields. Arizona State will face three Pac-12 foes at the tournament, which takes place on October 20. First up, ASU will take on 2018 Pac-12 Tournament Champion and NCAA Participant Stanford, who is the tournament host. Johnson Field will play host to the matchup of conference rivals at 10:35 A.M. (MST). The Sun Devils will stay on Johnson Field when they take on Oregon at 11:40 A.M. The Ducks have found consistency with their program, winning at least nine games in five consecutive years. Finally, Arizona State will move over to the South Intramural Fields at 1:50 P.M. where they will tangle with their second Pac-12 competitor, the California Golden Bears. The two sides matched up twice last year, splitting the season series in a pair of dramatic contests. Arizona State traveled to Berkeley and knocked off California in overtime, 12-11, for their first Pac-12 win in program history.
Coach Martinez Connor's take: "We played each of these teams last season, so it will be interesting to see how we measure up to them in the Fall. We always enjoy competing against the top programs on the west coast."
UC DAVIS INVITATIONAL (10/21) The Sun Devils won't have far to travel for their second tournament of the weekend and final tournament of the fall, as they will participate in the UC Davis Invitational. The event will be held on October 21 at Aggie Stadium in Davis, Calif. The format will slightly deviate from the previous tournaments, with the games scheduled for a one hour and 15-minute time period. In the first matchup, Fresno State will be the opponent. The Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time in school history. The Sun Devils will then turn their attention to tournament host UC Davis, a game that will be played from 12:30 P.M.-1:45 P.M. In the final game of the tournament, a 7-on-7, 30-minute contest will take place between UC Davis and ASU. Each team will be on offense on opposite sides of the field simultaneously. This will be a chance for the Sun Devils assistant coaches to have more time to work with their specific units. Coach Tierney Conlon will work with the offensive side of the ball, having the benefit to work on set plays thanks to the 7-on-7 format. On the other side of the ball, Coach Caroline Fitzgerald leads the defense. Coach Fitzgerald will have the opportunity to work with her unit on playing physical and preventing the offense from becoming comfortable when they are threatening to score.
Coach Martinez Connor's take: "I am looking forward to seeing the development and improvement of our team from the Navy Invitational to the UC Davis Invitational. The 7-on-7 format will give our team a chance to focus on the details and practice certain situations in both our attacking and defending areas."
MAROON & GOLD SCRIMMAGE The two weekends of fall tournaments will help prepare ASU for their Maroon & Gold Scrimmage, which will take place at Sun Devil Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium on Sunday, October 28 at 12 P.M. This will be your first chance to check out the 2019 Sun Devil Lacrosse team, as the scrimmage will be open to the public and admission is free. The Maroon & Gold Scrimmage is a valuable opportunity for the coaching staff to see the progress the team made in the fall and gives them a chance to evaluate what areas the team must improve upon. Maroon and Gold teams will be decided upon during practice in the weeks leading up to the contest. The weekend of the Maroon and Gold Scrimmage will also feature a brunch, with those who received awards from the 2018 season and standouts from fall practice being honored for their efforts.
"The Maroon & Gold Scrimmage is a tremendous opportunity to evaluate the progress we have made in the fall," Coach Martinez Connor commented on the importance of having a scrimmage to wrap-up the fall. "The way we are selecting the teams will encourage competition in the weeks leading up to the scrimmage. I am excited that we are able to offer an opportunity to our fans to come support the team before the spring schedule. The families and friends of our players will have a chance to see us play in person. We look forward to performing well and putting on a show for them."
While the fall games won't count towards their 2019 record, it is a good chance for a youthful squad to earn some valuable experience against high-level programs in both a road and neutral site atmosphere. The following is a breakdown of Sun Devil lacrosse's fall schedule:
NAVY FALL INVITATIONAL (10/6) For the second consecutive season, Arizona State will travel to Annapolis, Md. for their first stop of the fall competition schedule at the Navy Fall Invitational on October 6, hosted by the United States Naval Academy. Arizona State plays in four abbreviated games, scheduled to run for 45 minutes each. This format gives the team an opportunity to compete in multiple games during the one-day invitational. The Sun Devils start off with the Towson Tigers, who finished No. 9 in the final IWLCA Coaches Poll after tying a school-record with 16 wins. The first game is scheduled for a 2 P.M. (MST) faceoff on the Rip Miller Turf. Later in the afternoon, the Sun Devils stay on Rip Miller Turf to take on Temple at 4 P.M. The Owls finished 2018 with a 9-8 record competing in the prestigious Big East Conference. Immediately after the contest against the Owls, the Sun Devils will turn around to face invitational host Navy at 5 P.M. The Midshipmen are coming off a historic season which ended in an NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals loss to No. 1 seed Maryland. Navy picked up 18 wins last season and figures to be an early measuring stick for a young Arizona State squad. In their fourth and final matchup of the one-day invitational, the Sun Devils switch over to Farragut Turf to take on St. Joseph's at 7 P.M. The Hawks have recorded double-digit wins in consecutive seasons, finishing the 2018 campaign with a 12-7 record. The combined 2018 record of Arizona State's four opponents at the Navy Fall Invitational is 55-24, giving the team a chance to gauge where they are in comparison to some of the most competitive programs in the country.
Coach Martinez Connor's take: "I couldn't have asked for a better tournament to start the fall season. The strength of competition will test our players and I am excited to see how they respond. We are excited to be a part of such a prestigious event."
JOHNS HOPKINS INVITATIONAL (10/7) A quick turnaround after a day full of action at the Navy Fall Invitational has the Sun Devils staying in the state of Maryland to compete in the Johns Hopkins Invitational. This is the 8th annual "Stick it to Sarcoma" event, a fall ball tournament where all proceeds benefit the Sarcoma Program at Johns Hopkins. Two members of the 2018 NCAA Final Four are competing at the Invitational, giving the Sun Devils another chance to face some of the nation's top competition. In a similar format to the Navy Fall Invitational, the games are scheduled an hour apart and are capped at 45 minutes. The Sun Devils get a test against the best, as they take on 2018 National Champion James Madison in their first matchup at 11 A.M. (MST) at Homewood Field in Baltimore. At 1 P.M, Arizona State will take on another worthy opponent in 2018 NCAA Tournament Participant, and tournament host, Johns Hopkins. Wrapping up the afternoon, the Sun Devils will take on the Drexel Dragons at 3 P.M. New Arizona State Assistant Coach Caroline Fitzgerald spent last season on the Dragons' coaching staff.
Coach Martinez Connor's take: "We are taking on the challenge of playing two tournaments in one weekend and I will be interested to see how our players compete. The Johns Hopkins Invitational will be an early test for our program's resiliency and focus. We look forward to competing against some of the elite programs in the sport."
STANFORD PLAYDAY (10/20) After enjoying a weekend off after the Johns Hopkins Invitational, the Sun Devils continue their fall schedule in familiar territory, as they head to the Stanford Playday. Hosted by the Stanford Cardinal, the games will be in 45-minute format that is common in fall tournaments. Two fields will be used on Stanford's campus, with the action rotating between Johnson Turf and the South Intramural Fields. Arizona State will face three Pac-12 foes at the tournament, which takes place on October 20. First up, ASU will take on 2018 Pac-12 Tournament Champion and NCAA Participant Stanford, who is the tournament host. Johnson Field will play host to the matchup of conference rivals at 10:35 A.M. (MST). The Sun Devils will stay on Johnson Field when they take on Oregon at 11:40 A.M. The Ducks have found consistency with their program, winning at least nine games in five consecutive years. Finally, Arizona State will move over to the South Intramural Fields at 1:50 P.M. where they will tangle with their second Pac-12 competitor, the California Golden Bears. The two sides matched up twice last year, splitting the season series in a pair of dramatic contests. Arizona State traveled to Berkeley and knocked off California in overtime, 12-11, for their first Pac-12 win in program history.
Coach Martinez Connor's take: "We played each of these teams last season, so it will be interesting to see how we measure up to them in the Fall. We always enjoy competing against the top programs on the west coast."
UC DAVIS INVITATIONAL (10/21) The Sun Devils won't have far to travel for their second tournament of the weekend and final tournament of the fall, as they will participate in the UC Davis Invitational. The event will be held on October 21 at Aggie Stadium in Davis, Calif. The format will slightly deviate from the previous tournaments, with the games scheduled for a one hour and 15-minute time period. In the first matchup, Fresno State will be the opponent. The Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time in school history. The Sun Devils will then turn their attention to tournament host UC Davis, a game that will be played from 12:30 P.M.-1:45 P.M. In the final game of the tournament, a 7-on-7, 30-minute contest will take place between UC Davis and ASU. Each team will be on offense on opposite sides of the field simultaneously. This will be a chance for the Sun Devils assistant coaches to have more time to work with their specific units. Coach Tierney Conlon will work with the offensive side of the ball, having the benefit to work on set plays thanks to the 7-on-7 format. On the other side of the ball, Coach Caroline Fitzgerald leads the defense. Coach Fitzgerald will have the opportunity to work with her unit on playing physical and preventing the offense from becoming comfortable when they are threatening to score.
Coach Martinez Connor's take: "I am looking forward to seeing the development and improvement of our team from the Navy Invitational to the UC Davis Invitational. The 7-on-7 format will give our team a chance to focus on the details and practice certain situations in both our attacking and defending areas."
MAROON & GOLD SCRIMMAGE The two weekends of fall tournaments will help prepare ASU for their Maroon & Gold Scrimmage, which will take place at Sun Devil Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium on Sunday, October 28 at 12 P.M. This will be your first chance to check out the 2019 Sun Devil Lacrosse team, as the scrimmage will be open to the public and admission is free. The Maroon & Gold Scrimmage is a valuable opportunity for the coaching staff to see the progress the team made in the fall and gives them a chance to evaluate what areas the team must improve upon. Maroon and Gold teams will be decided upon during practice in the weeks leading up to the contest. The weekend of the Maroon and Gold Scrimmage will also feature a brunch, with those who received awards from the 2018 season and standouts from fall practice being honored for their efforts.
"The Maroon & Gold Scrimmage is a tremendous opportunity to evaluate the progress we have made in the fall," Coach Martinez Connor commented on the importance of having a scrimmage to wrap-up the fall. "The way we are selecting the teams will encourage competition in the weeks leading up to the scrimmage. I am excited that we are able to offer an opportunity to our fans to come support the team before the spring schedule. The families and friends of our players will have a chance to see us play in person. We look forward to performing well and putting on a show for them."
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (LOCAL) | LOCATION |
| NAVY FALL INVITATIONAL | |||
| 10/6 | Towson | 11-11:45 A.M. | Rip Miller Turf |
| 10/6 | Temple | 1-1:45 P.M. | Rip Miller Turf |
| 10/6 | Navy | 2-2:45 P.M. | Rip Miller Turf |
| 10/6 | St. Joseph's | 4-4:45 P.M. | Farragut Turf |
| JOHNS HOPKINS INVITATIONAL | |||
| 10/7 | James Madison | 8:00 A.M. | Homewood Field |
| 10/7 | Johns Hopkins | 10:00 A.M. | Homewood Field |
| 10/7 | Drexel | 12:00 P.M. | Homewood Field |
| STANFORD PLAYDAY | |||
| 10/20 | Stanford | 10:35 A.M. | Johnson Turf |
| 10/20 | Oregon | 11:40 A.M. | Johnson Turf |
| 10/20 | California | 1:50 P.M. | South Intramural Field |
| UC DAVIS INVITATIONAL | |||
| 10/21 | Fresno State | 11:00 A.M.-12:15 P.M. | Aggie Stadium |
| 10/21 | UC Davis | 12:30-1:45 P.M. | Aggie Stadium |
| 10/21 | UC Davis (7-on-7) | 1:55-2:25 P.M. | Aggie Stadium |