Arizona State will contend for Big 12 standings and program records when it faces West Virginia on Sunday.
The Sun Devils 9-1-2 (2-1-1 Big 12) are currently ranked No. 6 in the Big 12 conference, one spot behind the Mountaineers 7-2-2 (2-0-2 Big 12). Their trip to Morgantown marks the first in program history, and it is just the second time the teams have faced off.
A year ago, in a 2-1 ASU home loss, WVU’s defense completely shut down the Sun Devils’ offense, only allowing five total shots. Then-freshman forward Kierra Blundell scored ASU’s only goal, but has battled with injuries as a sophomore and has yet to record a goal this season.
Conversely, the Mountaineers’ suffocating defense has carried on to this year, recording shutouts in six of their seven wins. A big reason for that is star redshirt junior goalkeeper Bailey Herfurth, who has posted an impressive 0.34 goals-against average across her 10 games played.
With Herfurth in one net and senior shotstopper Pauline Nelles in the other, goals may be hard to come by Sunday. The German international has a chance to set the Sun Devils’ program record of 26 career clean sheets after tying Chandler Morris with 25 following her shutout with Cincinnati
Nelles will have her work cut out for her as the Mountaineers have scored in nine of their 11 games this season. Last season, both redshirt sophomore defender Gianna Koss and senior forward Ajane Respass scored on her, but this year they have taken a backseat to WVU’s two top scorers.
Senior forward Taylor White has six goals and seven assists on the season. She is joined by sophomore midfielder Maddie Levy, who has four goals and three assists.
White has been in strong form recently, scoring three goals in her last three games. She was essential in WVU’s wins over Arizona, Utah and No. 16 BYU. During that stretch, the team scored seven goals and earned its first ranked win of the season.
Staying undefeated in the Big 12 has been a part of the Mountaineers’ dominant streak. They haven’t lost since Aug. 24 against No. 14 Penn State, nine games ago. The Sun Devils started the season just as dominant, but have struggled over the last weeks. They tied with Oklahoma State, took their first loss of the season to UCF, then finally earned a 1-0 win over Cincinnati last Thursday.
The Sun Devils will try to put those performances behind them and return to the commanding wins that have them in the midst of one of head coach Graham Winkworth’s best seasons.
ASU’s next victory will put them at double-digit wins for the season, the fourth time in Winkworth’s eight seasons. No ASU head coach has had more than three.
A chance at history for Winkworth and Nelles won’t be easy, as they try to become the first unranked team to beat WVU this year.
