(Tempe, AZ) Sun Devil Lacrosse (8-5, 1-0) managed a three-goal lead at one point against No. 7 Maryland (8-3, 3-1) but a nine-goal run from the Terps was enough to top the Sun Devils 18-14 on Thursday, snapping ASU’s undefeated run at home. Despite the loss in the final non-conference matchup of the season, senior goalkeeper Katie Vahle reached the 600 career save mark, becoming only the third active DI goalie to achieve this feat.
Junior attacker Teagan Ng’s five-goal performance raises her to third all-time for single-season goals scored. Her 48 goals tie Lydia Oldknow’s 2024 single-season record, trailing only Carley Adams’ 51 and 58-goal seasons.
How it Happened
ASU started the match down one as they conceded a goal to Maryland in the first minute of play. Anna Thornton was quick to respond, netting a goal of her own to even the score. Both teams continued the back-and-forth tacking on two consecutive goals a piece. The goals by Thornton, Teagan Ng, Claire Beucher, and Lydia Oldknow were not enough to out do the MU attack concluding the quarter down 4-6.
Quarter two delivered an opening goal courtesy Ng who broke down the Maryland defensive line and put the Sun Devils within one. After surrendering a score to the Terps, ASU relied on the hot hand of Ng, who capitalized on two free position sets to secure her third goal of the quarter. A timeout by the Terps helped them briefly regain the lead. But in the final minutes, ASU’s counter-pressure led to back-to-back free position goals from Beucher and Bella Ingrao, giving the Sun Devils their first lead of the day at 9-8.
The second half set out in favor of the Sun Devils. A timely save by ASU goalie Katie Valhe spurred the offense to net two unanswered goals from Oldknow and Annie Haley, extending their lead to three at 11-8. MU initiated its scoring burst in the final ten minutes of the quarter. Striking in the ninth minute, the Terpin offense continued to land five additional goals broken up by the lone goal from Oldknow. The quarter featured nine total goals—six by MU and three by ASU—that contributed to MU’s comeback effort and brought the final score to 12–14.
ASU made a change in goal, bringing in freshman Regan Spichiger, but was not able to shift the tide as the fourth quarter’s momentum stayed with the Terpins. The Sun Devils picked up two goals from Oldknow and Ng, but the four goals let up early on put the game just out of reach, ending in a score of 14-18.
Sun Devil Notables
- The five goals by Teagan Ng marks her third straight game with five goals scored, a feat that had not been done in program history.
- Lydia Oldknow’s four point performance was the fifth time this season hitting that mark. She rides a 34-game point streak, dating back to the 2024 season opener.
- Goalie Katie Vahle‘s six saves was enough to surpass the 600 mark in her career. She’s one of three active DI goalies with 600+ career saves. She sits at 602 saves.
- Sophomore midfielder Anna Viglione’s nine draw controls in the contest puts her season total at 145 and is just 21 draw controls away from Zoe Mazur’s 167 captured in 2024.
- The next win for ASU will tie 2024’s win total.
Up Next
The three game home stretch concludes with a Big 12 contest against Colorado on Saturday, April 6 at 12 p.m. AZT. The game is set to be broadcast on ESPN+.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Claudia Schwartz
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