ASU Soccer: A look into Pac-12 Conference play as Sun Devils head to Cal

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

With a three-game winning streak in hand, and sitting on a 5–2–0 record following non-conference action, the Arizona State women’s soccer program has every reason to be confident as they prepare to enter Pac-12 play. The Sun Devils lost by just one goal in each of their defeats, against New Hampshire and Baylor, and kept shutouts in each of their last three matches.

Although current results look promising, the Sun Devils do not have history on their side. Pac-12 play has been brutal to ASU the last few seasons: the program has not won five conference games in a season since 2015, and one has to look back to 2012 for the last time Arizona State won more games than they lost in conference play (they went 6–4–1 in Pac-12 action that year, the first season after the conference expanded to 12 teams).

Five Pac-12 teams were ranked in the latest United Soccer Coaches top 25 poll, with another two receiving votes. While the Sun Devils do get three of those teams, namely Colorado, Stanford, and Washington State, at home, they will play those five teams in a six-game, three-week span. That situation is simply the reality of Pac-12 play, with a conference season that barely spans more than a month.

Arizona State will open conference play this Saturday, September 22, on the road against California. After two home games to close the month, they open October against the two Los Angeles schools, then return home for three games in eight days. After a trip to Oregon to close October, the Sun Devils finish the regular season with a Territorial Cup match against Arizona.

California Golden Bears (4–3–1)

Cal played a tough non-conference schedule, and that has reflected in the Golden Bears’ record heading into conference play. Two of those three defeats came in road matches against ranked teams, however, while Cal tallied solid home victories over Oklahoma and Harvard.

Last year: The Golden Bears entered this fixture ranked 11 in the country and riding a six-game winning streak, but Arizona State held firm in Berkeley to earn a 1–1 draw. Defender Madison Stark scored the tying goal with 20 minutes to play in regulation, and Sun Devil goalie Nikki Panas fended off four Cal shots in overtime to earn the draw.

Player to watch: Junior midfielder Mia Corbin has yet to start this season for the Golden Bears, but she leads the team with three assists while appearing in all eight matches.

Colorado Buffaloes (8–0–1, Rank #23)

Colorado is unbeaten this season, the only blemish on their record being a scoreless draw against rivals Colorado State. The Buffaloes have kept six shutouts this season, and have outscored their opponents by a 26–3 mark. Among their highlights so far this season: a 6–0 victory over Missouri in late August.

Last year: The Sun Devils conceded three first-half goals on the way to a 3–0 defeat. ASU forced seven saves out of Colorado goalkeepers Jalen Tompkins and Scout Watson, who each played a half, but could not find a way to break through the Buffaloes defense.

Player to watch: Although the defense has been incredible, junior forward Tatum Barton has been the key to Colorado’s success this season. Barton leads the Pac-12, and is tied for third in the country, with nine goals on the year.

Utah Utes (3–4–1)

It’s been a mixed bag so far for the Utes, with solid victories over Utah State and Nevada mixed with defeats against Kansas and BYU. Utah will make the trip down to Tempe at the end of September, playing their third straight road game; they will travel to Oregon and Arizona before facing the Sun Devils.

Last year: Four goals were scored last year in this fixture, three of them coming through penalty kicks. Jemma Purfield notched a brace for the Sun Devils, but was matched by Utah’s Paola Van der Veen, who also scored twice. The teams combined for seven shots in overtime, but both keepers stood firm to hold the draw.

Player to watch: Goalkeeper Carly Nelson has started all eight matches this year for the Utes, conceding just nine goals. She has made 29 saves this season, including a six-save night in the defeat against BYU.

UCLA Bruins (5–1–1, Rank #8)

The last three games for UCLA: 3–0 victory, 3–0 victory, 3–0 victory. The Bruins opened this month with a 4–1 defeat on the road against Florida State; since then, UCLA has looked nigh unbeatable. The Bruins opened their new stadium this season, moving across campus to play at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.

Last year: The Bruins were the number one team in the country when these two teams met last year, and played like it in a 3–0 victory. Hailie Mace scored twice, while Anika Rodriguez added a third early in the second half. Sun Devil goalies Megan Delaney and Nikki Panas combined to make six saves, but the offense could not answer for ASU.

Player to watch: Forward Hailie Mace scored 15 goals last season; she may be nowhere near that rate so far this year, but she’s been the most influential Bruin so far. Mace has two goals and four assists in 2018, although she’s played just four matches.

USC Trojans (7–0–1, Rank #3)

Just like UCLA, the only blemish on the resume comes courtesy of Florida State: a scoreless draw in Tallahassee earlier this season. Other than that, USC has rolled through their nonconference slate, outscoring opponents 23–3. The Trojans will be holding Breast Cancer Awareness Day when they welcome Arizona State to Los Angeles in early October.

Last year: Arizona State was playing their fourth straight match against a ranked team, but put forth one of their best performances on the year. The Sun Devils took the lead in the 10 minute through a Jemma Purfield goal, and held that lead through halftime, but USC struck with two second-half goals to take the victory. Each team had a player sent off, with the Trojans scoring both of their goals after ASU’s Angela Boyle was red carded after 60 minutes.

Player(s) to watch: Defenders Ally Prisock and Jessica Haidet are the only two players who have played every minute this season for the Trojans. The two are the anchors of a USC defense that is allowing just 0.38 goals per game. Prisock, a senior, tallied an assist in a victory over San Diego.

Stanford Cardinal (7–0–1, Rank #1)

The Cardinal are the top-ranked team in the country for a reason. Stanford staked their claim to the top spot with a 2–1 overtime victory over North Carolina, and also have victories over Minnesota and Notre Dame. Only Santa Clara, ranked seventh at the time, has been able to hold the Cardinal, claiming a 1–1 draw on September 16.

Last year: All the second-ranked Cardinal did was hand Arizona State the largest loss in Sun Devil program history, 6–0. Stanford outshot ASU 30 to 2, and did not allow a single shot on target. Michelle Xiao scored twice and provided an assist to lead the Cardinal.

Player to watch: Senior midfielder Jordan DiBiasi has been the creator thus far for Stanford, providing five assists and scoring twice. DiBiasi, a team captain, has tallied 23 goals and 18 assists in her collegiate career, with more than half of those goals being game-winners.

Washington State Cougars (7–0–0, Rank #14)

The Cougars haven’t been as dominant as some other top Pac-12 teams, but they’ve got the best record in the conference at this point in the season. They picked up a pair of victories over Big 10 teams in late August, and have so far avoided any slip-ups against lesser opposition.

Last year: Arizona State’s defense put on a show, but the Sun Devils came up just short in a 1–0 defeat. ASU was outshot by a 25–9 margin, bur Nikki Panas made 11 saves to keep the match close. The lone goal was scored in the 63 minute by Elyse Bennett, who is back with Washington State this season.

Player to watch: Senior defender Maddy Haro doesn’t have a goal this season. What she does have is eight assists, the most in the country in that category. Through seven matches this season, Haro has already more than doubled her previous career total of seven assists.

Washington Huskies (5–2–1)

Washington struggled in their home invitational, losing against Wisconsin and drawing Michigan State. The Huskies enter conference play on a three-game winning streak, including two victories at the Portland Invitational.

Last year: Arizona State claimed just two victories in Pac-12 play in 2017; Washington was the second of those wins. On Senior Day at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium, Christina Edwards scored the winning goal in the 73 minute, her lone shot of the match finding the back of the net.

Player to watch: Junior goalie Siena Ruelas is allowing less than a goal per game so far in 2018, conceding seven times in eight matches. Ruelas has made 27 saves this year, while helping the Husky defense keep three shutouts.

Oregon Ducks (6–1–1)

The Ducks have taken five wins from five at home this season. Away from Eugene, however, things haven’t gone so well: a win, a draw, and a loss in three games. Oregon was receiving votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll.

Last year: Marissa Everett stole the show in Eugene, scoring twice inside of the first half-hour. Jemma Purfield and Christina Edwards each tallied two shots on goal for the Sun Devils, but Oregon would tack on a third goal in the final 20 minutes to walk away with a 3–0 victory.

Player to watch: Call the Ducks a team to watch, not just one player. Through non-conference play, nine players have started every game for Oregon. This lineup continuity, from back to front, has helped the Ducks allow just five goals in eight games while putting half of their shots on target.

Oregon State Beavers (1–7–0)

The record speaks for itself for the Beavers, with their only victory coming in overtime against Dartmouth. Oregon State has been outscored 19–4 this season, received ten more yellow cards, and conceded three penalty kicks. The Beavers haven’t finished with a winning record since 2012, when they won eleven matches and were ranked as high as 21^st in the country.

Last year: The Sun Devils and Beavers met in the Pac-12 opener last season, with Arizona State claiming a 2–1 victory in Tempe. Jemma Purfield and Christina Edwards tallied the ASU goals, and although Diana Santiago pulled one back late for Oregon State, the Sun Devils bunkered down late to claim the victory.

Player to watch: It hasn’t been a fun season so far for Oregon State, but it could be even worse without the services of true freshman goalkeeper Bridgette Skiba. The Portland native has made 42 saves this season, including nine stops in a 4–1 defeat against Texas Tech earlier this month. She comfortably leads the conference in that category, 13 saves ahead of any other Pac-12 goalie.

Arizona Wildcats (7–1–0)

ASU’s Territorial Cup rivals have been dominating this season on their way to receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Wildcats have outscored their opposition 21–3, including a pair of victories in Tempe as part of the Sun Devil Desert Classic in August. On September 9, Arizona defeated Baylor 3–1; that same Bears team had claimed a 1–0 victory over Arizona State two days earlier.

Last year: Arizona claimed a second consecutive victory over ASU, with goals from Hannah Clifford and Amanda Porter handing the Wildcats a 2–1 victory. Jazmarie Mader scored for Arizona State in her final collegiate game, but her tying goal only held up for seven minutes before the Wildcats found a winner.

Player to watch: Eleven players have scored this season for the Wildcats, but Emily Knous has been the pick of the bunch for Arizona this season. She sits second on the team with four goals this year, on just 17 total shots, and is also second on the team with two assists. Knous and defender Hallie Pearson are the only freshman who have started every match this season for Arizona.