TEMPE - Despite a comeback effort against No. 22 Denver and an 11-save performance from freshman goalkeeper Gabi Henry in relief, Sun Devil Lacrosse fell to the Pioneers 14-7 in Sunday's home opener.
The draw unit for ASU was dominant, outdrawing DU 14-6, however the Pioneers were able to capatalize off of turnovers as ASU posted 21 to Denver's 11. DU needed just six saves on 21 ASU shots to secure the win, and managed to outshoot the Sun Devils with 31 shots on its home turf.
ASU (0-2) drew a record crowd against Denver (2-0) with 782 fans in attendance, shattering the previous high of 696 that came on senior day against SDSU last season.
How it happened
Denver began the game by quickly tacking on four goals against Reagan Spichiger, who made her second career start on Sunday. With 3:35 left in the first frame, Gabriella Henry replaced Spichiger in net and two more DU goals were added to the scoresheet to give the Pioneers a 6-0 lead after one quarter of play.
A pair of midfielders in Claire Beucher and Kayli Carannante notched back-to-back scores for ASU, which would be the only two goals of the frame for the home team. The defense allowed three DU goals in the second, and the score was 9-2 in Denver's favor going into halftime.
Goals from ASU's leading senior attack duo in Teagan Ng and Lydia Oldknow were the lone scores of the quarter for ASU. A pair of goals allowed by the defense had the sitting at 11-4 after three quarters of play.
ASU's highest-scoring quarter was the fourth quarter when it saw three goals from from Ng, Oldknow, and redshirt sophomore Addie Shevitz. DU matched the scoring with three of their own and secured the 14-7 win.
Sun Devil notables
- Freshman attacker Ava Whitt made her collegiate debut for the Sun Devils after appearing in the fourth quarter. She is the fourth freshman to see game action this season.
- Henry posted 11 saves in her first collegiate appearance after replaicing Spichiger in net in the first quarter. She posted a .524 saves percentage in 48 minutes and stopped six of eight free position shots that went her way.
- Freshman defender Averie Cage made her first career start for ASU after being named Big 12 Freshman of the Week in last week's awards.
- Ng claimed third place on the program’s all-time goal leaderboard with two scores on Sunday. She is 14 goals shy of typing the career goals record, which is 146 set by Kerri Clayton.
- Ng also pushed her goal-scoring streak to 21 games after her pair of scores today.
- Oldknow now owns a 40-game point-scoring streak dating back to the 2024 season after two goals on Sunday. In 39 of those games, she’s scored a goal.
- The loss on Sunday mark's ASU's first loss in a home opener after previously owning an 8-0 record.
- Against Denver, ASU is now 0-4 all time, however the seven-goal margin of defeat is the smallest against the Pioneers in the four meetings.
- ASU has not beaten a ranked opponent since May 5, 2022 in the 13-12 win over No. 16 USC.
Up next
Arizona State will take on Lindenwood on Saturday, Feb. 21 at noon MST for their second of seven straight home games. The game is slated to be streamed on ESPN+, and live stats will be available on Stat Broadcast.
Follow along
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