(Boulder, CO) Three-seed Sun Devil Lacrosse (11-7) avenged the regular-season loss to the Buffaloes with an 18-12 win over two-seeded Colorado (8-8) in the Big 12 Tournament semifinal game, sending the home team packing on their own turf. The 18 goals were the second most allowed by CU this season, and allowed ASU to advance to the Big 12 Championship Final on Saturday, May 3 against No. 4 Florida where an auto-bid to the NCAA Tournament is on the line.
Junior attacker Jordyn Behar tallied a career-high 11 points in the win after four goals and seven assists, and is one point shy of 100 on the year. ASU was dominant on all sides of the ball after out-drawing CU 19-12, and having an 11-save performance in goal from senior goalkeeper Katie Vahle.
How it Happened
Despite giving up the first goal of the game, ASU fired back quickly and netted four of the frame’s next five goals, all of which came from different Sun Devil scorers. The visitors held on to a 4-2 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter was the only frame that the Sun Devils were outscored in as CU tallied three goals to ASU’s two. Behar and Lydia Oldknow were the Sun Devils on the scoresheet in the second and the ASU lead was narrow at 6-5 after two.
The Maroon & Gold scored a game-high seven goals in the third quarter to Colorado’s three, and pushed the lead to 13-8 after three quarters of play. Behar either scored or assisted on five of the seven goals in the quarter. The Sun Devil offensive surge had CU replace their starting goalie, Elena Oh, who had two saves in 36 minutes of work.
In the final frame, ASU saw the third goalie from Colorado’s bench and managed to close out the game scoring five goals to CU’s four. The lead was too large and as the final buzzer sounded the Sun Devils secured the 18-12 win.
Sun Devil Notables
- The 11 wins ties the program’s single-season record.
- With three goals today, Teagan Ng has scored a goal in every game this season, and totals 69 on the year.
- After holding a 6-5 lead at half and winning 18-12, ASU improved to 9-2 on the season when leading at the halfway point.
- The 18 goals allowed were the most allowed by CU in Big 12 play this season
- Behar needed just two points to hit 100 in her career, and instead tallied 11 and sits at 99 on the season and 109 in her career.
- Vahle’s 11 saves were the 10th time this season she’s recorded double-digit saves.
- ASU’s 10 caused turnovers tied the season high.
- After being outshot 37-32 today, ASU improved to 3-6 when being outshot by its opponent.
Up Next
The Sun Devils will face one-seeded Florida in a rematch of the regular season finale. The game is slated for Saturday, May 3 at 12 p.m. AZT and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Claudia Schwartz
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