Quick Hitters
Ephraim’s goal lifts Lady Mats at Phoenix
The Arizona Western women’s soccer team defeated Phoenix 2-1 on the road Saturday thanks to a golden goal from Elizabeth Ephraim three minutes into overtime.
Vera Asare had the other goal for the Matadors (4-2-1) just four minutes into the game.
Phoenix (3-1-2) tied the game in the 87th minute to send it to overtime.
AWC next plays Saturday at home against Paradise Valley. It’ll be the Matadors’ conference opener.
Cookus throws for 4 TDs, NAU beats Western New Mexico
FLAGSTAFF — Case Cookus threw for 357 yards and four touchdowns on Saturday night and Northern Arizona beat Division II Western New Mexico 55-21.
On the Lumberjacks’ opening drive of the third quarter, Cookus capped a run of 33 straight points with a 63-yard pass to Joe Logan that made it 47-6. Heath Beemiller replaced Cookus on the next series and finished with 125 yards passing.
Logan also caught a 65-yard TD pass in the first quarter and ran for a 4-yard TD in the second quarter, finishing with three scores and 140 yards from scrimmage. Hendrix Johnson had four catches for a career-high 107 yards, and Brandon Porter had five catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Northern Arizona (2-1) scored touchdowns on its first two possessions and returned a PAT attempt for 2 points to make it 16-6 after Western New Mexico’s touchdown with 1:36 left in the first quarter.
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Jayden Daniels and Arizona State spoiled Mark Dantonio’s bid for a milestone.
Instead, the Michigan State coach was left to explain a chaotic finish to a disappointing home loss.
Daniels directed Arizona State on a pressure-packed 75-yard drive and, after Eno Benjamin reached the ball to the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown run with 50 seconds remaining, the Sun Devils held on for a 10-7 victory over No. 18 Michigan State on Saturday.
The Spartans had a tying field goal in the final seconds negated for having too many men on the field — a sour finish on a day when Dantonio had a chance to take over sole possession of the school record for victories.
After falling behind late, the Spartans drove back to the Arizona State 24 and, after spiking the ball to stop the clock with 11 seconds left, they appeared to have enough time for one more throw. But with no timeouts remaining, Michigan State (2-1) seemed indecisive, and eventually the field goal team rushed on. The Spartans barely snapped the ball in time to beat the play clock, and although Matt Coghlin’s 42yard kick went through, a replay review showed there were too many players on the field.
“Initially, we were going to try to take a shot to the end zone,” Dantonio said. “Then I said, ‘Hey