Arizona State soccer faces second ranked opponent

(Photo: Steve Rodriguez/ASU athletics)

The Arizona State soccer team will look to extend their three-game win streak this weekend as they travel to Tucson to play in the Arizona Cats’ Classic.

The Sun Devils (4-1) open up play on Friday against No. 24 Texas Tech (5-1). The Red Raiders will be the second ranked opponent that ASU has had to face in 2013.

“Texas Tech is a good team. They’re nationally ranked right now, so they’re another opponent that is high-caliber,” head coach Kevin Boyd said. “Our focus is really just on them. It’s not about this win streak. Win streaks take care of themselves, as long as you focus each game at a time. If we go out and play our way, I think our chances of winning are really good.”

Texas Tech kicked off their season with four straight wins before losing to Long Beach State 3-2. Since the loss, however, the Red Raiders have won two straight.

Texas Tech is a team that scores early and often, as they have outscored opponents 7-0 in the first half. Defender Haley Haagsma leads the team in points with nine, and has three goals to go along with three assists.

“They play a system that they’ve perfected: a 4-4-2 formation with a boxed midfield,” Boyd said. “Their coach is probably the No. 1 coach in the country that runs that system. We’re trying to sort out our system match up.”

The Sun Devils are coming off of a successful weekend of their own after winning the Sun Devil Classic. Forwards Cali Farquharson and Devin Marshall combined for six of the team’s seven goals on the weekend. Marshall was also named the Pac-12 offensive player of the week.

“Our record has really helped our confidence,” Farquharson said. “I take it one game at a time. I always focus on trying to get a goal per game, and if I get more that’s great.”

The game starts at 4:30 pm and can be watched live here.

You can reach Mauricio Casillas on twitter @maucasillas94 or via email on mauricio.casillas94@gmail.com