(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
With a game on the road at Northern Arizona University (4-2-1) Friday and a home tilt against Weber State (1-2-3) Sunday, the Arizona State women’s soccer team (3-2) seeks to close out their non-conference play on a high note.
This weekend’s matches are important for the Lady Sun Devils as they prepare to begin Pac-12 play next week against California on the road.
ASU enters this week’s competition after securing their first road victory of the season against South Dakota State, with goals from international newcomers Nicole Douglas and Alexia Delgado to win 2-0.
Nicole Douglas is racking up goals, averaging a goal every 70 minutes so far this season. Out of her eight shots on goal so far, four have gone in, making her the leading goal scorer on the Sun Devils squad.
Not only has the offense been a big boost for the Sun Devils, but the defense and goalkeepers have been doing impressive work themselves.
Senior Sydney Day and sophomore Nikki Panas each have respectively recorded a clean sheet early into the season. The defense has also helped minimize opponents’ opportunities, allowing less than ten shots on goal per game through the first five contests of the year.
ASU will face NAU on Friday in Flagstaff for their final non-conference match on the road. The Lumberjacks are coming off a 2-0 win at home against CSU Bakersfield.
Both teams square off for the first time since 2012, riding one-game winning streaks into the matchup. In that 2012 contest, the Sun Devils were victorious 4-0.
Looking at the Lumberjacks roster, freshman Sam Larberg paces NAU with two goals in seven games this season. Tatum Heeres, the junior forward from Phoenix, also leads the team and the Big Sky Conference with four assists.
The Lumberjacks will enter Friday’s contest tied for second in goals allowed per game in the conference.
Meanwhile, Weber State is the leader in that same category within the same conference.
Sunday’s match between the Sun Devils and Wildcats in Tempe to close out ASU’s non-conference play will be the fifth meeting between these two clubs.
ASU leads 3-1 in the series over Weber State and hold a three-game winning streak over the Wildcats. In their last match together, the Sun Devils walked away with a 4-0 victory and have 75 shots on goal in the whole series altogether.
Friday’s contest against Northern Arizona University will be held in Flagstaff with a 7 p.m. start time. Sunday’s matchup with Weber State will take place in Tempe at 1 p.m.
