TEMPE, Arizona— The Colorado State Rams won a fierce game against the Arizona State Sun Devils, keeping neck and neck most of the game, and taking the lead early in the fourth quarter. The teams were equally matched, and the game had the potential to go either way, but the Rams won 14-10 and made it known that they deserve to be ranked in the top five. “We fought hard from start to finish and I’m so proud of our guys for executing our game plan,” said Head Coach Alex Smith. Today’s game was well played on both sides, and both teams were statistically well matched. “ASU is a terrific lacrosse team and we had to work hard for this one, that’s for sure,” Coach Smith said. The first half was an intense display of both teams’ abilities. The two teams traded goals, never getting more than one point ahead of the other. Plays were executed with precision, and Rams’ goalie Alex Jacques made a number of huge saves. The Rams developed a strategy to combat the Sun Devils. “We didn’t want to get into a track meet with these guys because offensively they are as good as anyone in the country,” Coach Smith said. “I thought we did a great job of stopping transition and making them work for their goals. We got some great defensive plays and saves too, which always helps.” The pattern continued until the beginning of the third quarter, when the Rams surged ahead with three unanswered goals, making the players literally leap with excitement after each one as the victory became clearer. The Rams continued to look fresh, while the Sun Devils started dragging as the clock counted down. Two more goals sealed the deal for a gritty, hard fought team victory. Defeating the third ranked team in MCLA Division I on their home field was a huge win for the Rams. “I don’t think we’ll be sneaking up on anyone anymore, and that’s fine,” Coach Smith said after the game. “We have things that we have to keep getting better at, but this team is gaining some momentum now. I hope we can keep it going because this win doesn't mean much if we don't keep getting better. We have a couple more tough games this week and I think it will be a good test for us to see if we can put together a nice little road trip,” Coach Smith said. The Rams will play the Arizona Wildcats Monday and the Chico State Wildcats Wednesday.