Probably more than any team in the past two years, Arizona State has given Michigan a run for their money whenever the teams have met. They’ll have another chance at the Wolverines tonight, as the squads will meet up in the MCLA Semifinals from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Arizona State
Today 7PM MDT, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
TV: Fox College Sports.
Record: 13-4 (3-0 SLC South)
Rankings: 5 (Seeding), 5 (adidas), 4 (Prodigy), 2 (Computer).
Common Opponents: Boston College (W 14-5), @ Colorado State (L 5-6), @ Michigan State (L 10-11), Chapman (L 9-11), n Chapman (W 8-3).
When Last We Met
Joey Hrusovsky had 4 assists and a goal against the Sun Devils. Photo from mgobluelacrosse.com
Michigan topped Arizona State 12-10 in the most competitive game the Wolverines played during the regular season. Though Michigan built up a big lead during the game, The Sun Devils didn’t back down, and were able to get within 1, but couldn’t finish the deal.Trevor Yealy and Thomas Paras each notched a hat trick for Michigan, and Alex Vasileff added a pair of his own. Joey Hrusovsky had a goal of his own to go along with 4 assists. As usual, Michigan played both keepers, with each allowing 5 goals.
For the Sun Devils, Eric Nelson went to town with 5 goals. Ryan Westfall and Logan Quinn each had a pair of goals. None of ASU’s goals were assisted(!). Dylan Westfall went the distance between the pipes for Arizona State. ASU turned the game around when they started breaking Michigan’s ride (after failing to clear in their first 5 attempts).
How They Got Here
The Sun Devils started their season by beating up on mostly weak competition (although Boston College would prove later in the year that they were in fact a decent team). After reaching a 6-0 record, however, they stepped up the difficulty bigtime.
On back-to-back weekends, ASU traveled to Colorado and Michigan, to take on two pairs of top 10 squads. They fell to Colorado State in a 5-6 nailbiter before rebounding against Colorado. Michigan wasn’t so kind to them, however, as both the Wolverines and Spartans emerged with victories.
They closed out the regular season undefeated, but dropped the SLC Championship game to Chapman, saddling them with the 5 seed. However, after a first-round victory over Buffalo, the Sun Devils exacted revenge upon Chapman, with an 8-3 bludgeoning on Wednesday.
The Team
I’ve already previewed ASU once before, so be sure to check out that post.
The most important player to the Sun Devils, by my estimation, is goalkeeper Dylan Westfall. He’s probably the top goalie in the country, and single-handedly (along with some assistance from his goalposts) kept Arizona State in the game last time out against Michigan.
Offensively, Eric Nelson (who you may recall from such stunts as “five goals against Michigan”) and Ryan Westfall are the key cogs. Nelson scores more than 5.5 points each time out, and Westfall is over 4.5. Both are equally capable of finishing and distributing.
A trio of freshman is right behind that pair, with midfielder Logan Quinn and attackmen Mike Montella and Jeff Petznik all averaging over two points per game. All three of those guys are much more finisher than distributor, benefitting from the generosity of the two headliners.
Arizona State Defender Ian Anderson (Photo by Clark Bell)
A trio of sophomores – redshirt Ian Anderson (pictured at right against Buffalo) is joined by Ben Vasko and Jon Little – makes up the starting defense.
On faceoffs, Billy Schilling and Kris Saunders have both been just over .500 this year, which isn’t particularly impressive. Since Brian Greiner has really been rounding into form late in the season, Michigan should have a big advantage at the X. Schilling went 7-16 and Saunders went 3-9 last time against Michigan, so expect to see mostly Schilling.
Elsewhere
Jac Coyne talks about the familiarity between these teams – a recurring theme throughout the MCLA semifinals. Former Michigan assistant Ryan Demorest checks in from Denver for InsideLacrosse.
Predictions
I shall not tell a lie: I came into this preview fully expecting to predict a Michigan loss. The game was close last time around, and Arizona State really turned it on in the second half. If they could play that well for an entire 60 minutes, it stands to reason that they could spring an upset.
However, I think the faceoff X will determine the winner in this game. Since Brian Greiner performed so well last time out, and has been getting even better as the end of the season has approached, I think Michigan can have a decided advantage there.
Eric Nelson abused Michigan’s defense last time around, and since plenty of his opportunities came at the expense of Harry Freid, I think one of the best MCLA defenders in recent history is out to prove it was a fluke. Add in Michigan’s newfound schematic flexibility with a heavier use of zone, and UM can prevent him from doing as much damage as he did last time.
This should be a close game either way, and although Dylan Westfall is capable of stealing a game for his team, I’ll go with the squad that has lost once in the past 4 years. Michigan has been there before, and they know how to finish. Wolverines take this one by an identical score to last time out, 12-10.
Don’t forget that UM played CSU the day before when these teams met the first time this season…I thought the starters looked a bit gassed during the second half. UM also hit at least 3 pipes…
Still, you have to believe that ASU will be very, very pumped up for this game. Should be a good one.
I estimated the pipes to be even more than that. Maybe 5 or 6. Either way, both teams have a lot of motivation in this one (as much as you can be more motivated than “trying to win a national championship”).
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