(Photo By: Hazel Foubert/WCSN)
Coming off its first Big-12 win against the University of Houston (3-4-1, 0-2), Arizona State (6-1-2, 1-1) women’s soccer is in Orlando to face the University of Central Florida (3-1-2, 1-0) to close their three-game road slate.
ASU currently sits 2-1 on the road. This is the Sun Devils’ second all-time meeting against UCF (3-2-1) with the last being a 4-1 loss in 2019. This time the Sun Devils are 1-1 in Big-12 play while their opponent is 1-0 and 2-1 at home.
ASU is ranked 42nd in the country averaging 2.33 goals. It also ranks 38th in points (two points for a goal, one point for an assist) with 6.89 per game whereas UCF is ranked 23rd averaging 8.17. The Sun Devils have a shot percentage of 45.5 percent ranking 177th in the nation despite averaging 17.33 shots per game.
ASU freshman forward Kierra Blundell scored two goals last game for the Sun Devils and currently leads the team with seven goals and 17 points on the season. Alongside the Blundell are junior forwards Enasia Colon and Cameron Valladares who have created a strong offensive core for the Sun Devils. Valladares has four goals and three assists on the season, with three of the four goals being game-winners. Collectively, all three players have totaled 15 goals on the season.
These three combined with senior forward Keri Matthews will be crucial for the Sun Devils in this matchup. So far this season for ASU, Matthews has put up 18 shots, three goals, and three assists throughout her nine games played.
Defensively for the Sun Devils, junior goalkeeper Pauline Nelles has managed to carry her own defensively. She has allowed only five goals this season and has a save percentage of 87.5, ranked 25th in the NCAA. ASU is ranked 170th in saves averaging four per game. Nelles had the program record of nine shutouts last season and has recorded five games this season with no opponent goals scored.
In terms of the matchup, UCF will be a tough game for the Sun Devils. The Knights hold the all-time series against ASU 3-1. Their main threat is senior forward Chloe Netzel who has eight goals and 17 points, second in the Big 12 in both categories. Their freshman goalkeeper Sami Lipcon has recorded a save percentage of 84.4 on the season. However, their 1-0 record in conference play comes from a no-contest due to weather delays against Iowa State.
This is the Sun Devil’s third game in the Big-12 conference. They had a dominant start this season in non-conference play being 5-0-2. After this match, the Sun Devils travel back to Tempe for their next Big-12 matchup against West Virginia who is also 6-2-1 on the season. This is their last conference away game until their October 10th matchup against Baylor.
