TEMPE, Ariz. – The NCAA released the first edition of the Women's Lacrosse RPI rankings, one of the criteria considered for postseason play.
Sun Devil Lacrosse came in at No. 28 in the first NCAA RPI, reaching the highest mark in program history. Earlier in the year, Arizona State earned its first-ever ranking in a major national poll, coming in at No. 20 in the Inside Lacrosse poll.
The NCAA Championship provides for a field of 29 teams to compete in a single-elimination tournament. Sixteen conference champions qualify automatically, with the rest of the field is selected at-large by the NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Committee. The bracket will be announced on May 9, 2021, with the first round beginning May 14.
The Sun Devils are off to a program-best 7-3 overall record and 4-2 start in Pac-12 Conference play. Coach McCormack has quickly established an identity of playing Sun Devil Lacrosse for a full 60 minutes, a formula that has led to some incredible statistical achievements. There is a reason U.S. Lacrosse Magazine recently identified ASU as a program on the rise. Here is a closer look to how Arizona State is No. 28 in the initial RPI:
Arizona State enjoyed a well-earned weekend off next weekend and will host the Bay Area schools for a pair of rematches. First up, Stanford comes to Tempe for a showdown on Friday, April 16 at 1 pm MST. The Cardinal handed the Sun Devils one of their two conference losses in a matchup on The Farm earlier this season. Catch the action via the live stream at the following link, or follow along via live stats here.
The second game of the weekend takes place on Sunday, April 18 at 1 pm as Arizona State hosts California. Earlier in the season, the Sun Devils picked up their first conference win against the Golden Bears in a 21-11 road victory. The rematch will be broadcasted live at the following link, or with live stats provided here.
*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.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Follow our Twitter and Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWLax) and like our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/sundevilwlax/). Visit our website, TheSunDevils.com, for the latest updates and information on the program.
Sun Devil Lacrosse came in at No. 28 in the first NCAA RPI, reaching the highest mark in program history. Earlier in the year, Arizona State earned its first-ever ranking in a major national poll, coming in at No. 20 in the Inside Lacrosse poll.
The NCAA Championship provides for a field of 29 teams to compete in a single-elimination tournament. Sixteen conference champions qualify automatically, with the rest of the field is selected at-large by the NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Committee. The bracket will be announced on May 9, 2021, with the first round beginning May 14.
The Sun Devils are off to a program-best 7-3 overall record and 4-2 start in Pac-12 Conference play. Coach McCormack has quickly established an identity of playing Sun Devil Lacrosse for a full 60 minutes, a formula that has led to some incredible statistical achievements. There is a reason U.S. Lacrosse Magazine recently identified ASU as a program on the rise. Here is a closer look to how Arizona State is No. 28 in the initial RPI:
- The seven wins this season are already the most in a single-season, as Coach McCormack moves to 12-5 as the Head Coach (12-24 in the previous two seasons).
- The Maroon & Gold rank in the Top-10 nationally in assists/game (3rd), scoring offense (9th), and draw controls/game (5th).
- The Sun Devils are currently second in the Pac-12 Conference standings. They have never finished higher than fifth in the regular season.
- Arizona State enjoyed a five-game win streak earlier in the season, the longest in school history (previous long was 3). They outscored opponents 94-51 during that span.
- Arizona State has had 11 individuals receive the top weekly conference honor in Head Coach Tim McCormack's two seasons, including eight this season. Sun Devils had previously only winning the award three times over the two prior seasons.
- ASU is 3-0 against teams in the 40-75 range of the RPI.
- The program picked up its first-ever victories over Colorado and USC in Coach McCormack's first matchup with the Pac-12 powers. ASU had previously been outscored by the Buffaloes 62-15 in four all-time matchups and USC had an 83-25 advantage in five previous meetings under the previous staff.
- Fans at Sun Devil Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium have been treated to brilliant lacrosse, as ASU is 5-0 at home in 2021, outscoring opponents by a total score of 98-47.
- The Sun Devils have scored 16+ goals in 13 of the 18 games under Coach McCormack. Prior to his arrival, the program reached the mark just four times in 36 games.
- Arizona State snapped USC's eight-game home winning streak.
- The 11-goal victory USC's largest margin of defeat to a Pac-12 opponent.
- The 20 goals matched the most that USC had allowed in a game ever, a total reached by No. 2-ranked Boston College in the 2017 NCAA Quarterfinals.
- The loss to Arizona State was the first time USC lost to an unranked opponent since an 18-11 loss to Oregon (April 8, 2018) but that was on the road – it was the first time USC fell to an unranked foe at home since April 18, 2014 (a 10-8 loss to Oregon) when USC was also unranked. Meaning the Maroon & Gold became the first unranked team to beat a ranked Trojans' squad at home.
- This year, the Sun Devils forced a running clock midway through the second half in the two sides first meeting of 2021, only the second time that an opponent had accomplished that feat against the Trojans at McAlister Field.
- The only other team to achieve a double-digit lead in a road matchup with USC was Northwestern way back in the Trojans' first game as a program in 2013.
- USC has had running clock on it only two other times
- Apr. 8, 2018 – at Oregon
- Feb. 23, 2021 – at Stony Brook
Arizona State enjoyed a well-earned weekend off next weekend and will host the Bay Area schools for a pair of rematches. First up, Stanford comes to Tempe for a showdown on Friday, April 16 at 1 pm MST. The Cardinal handed the Sun Devils one of their two conference losses in a matchup on The Farm earlier this season. Catch the action via the live stream at the following link, or follow along via live stats here.
The second game of the weekend takes place on Sunday, April 18 at 1 pm as Arizona State hosts California. Earlier in the season, the Sun Devils picked up their first conference win against the Golden Bears in a 21-11 road victory. The rematch will be broadcasted live at the following link, or with live stats provided here.
*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.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Follow our Twitter and Instagram accounts (@SunDevilWLax) and like our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/sundevilwlax/). Visit our website, TheSunDevils.com, for the latest updates and information on the program.