ASU Soccer: Sun Devils host California in Pac-12 home Opener

(Photo via Xavier Litman/WCSN)

After opening conference play last week with a dramatic victory over the Colorado Buffaloes, Arizona State Women’s Soccer (5-0-2) is aiming to extend its four-match winning streak and stay undefeated on the season against the California Golden Bears (5-2-3) at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on Thursday. ASU will also try to snap a three-match losing streak against Cal, the last time they beat the Golden Bears was in 2018.

ASU’s midfield stole the show during Friday’s win, accounting for all three goals in the contest. Graduate midfielder Eva van Deursen picked up two scores, including a last-minute goal to seal the win for her team, netting three goals in her last two matches, increasing her season total to four.

Fellow graduate midfielder Alexia Delgado also had a strong outing in Boulder, finding the back of the net in the 30th minute to put ASU up 1-0. Through seven matches in 2022, the Nayarit, Mexico native logged three goals and two assists, once again becoming an integral component of this year’s offensive production.

With an assist in ASU’s last match, graduate forward Nicole Douglas continued her hot start to the season, as she has now tallied nine goals and two helpers in seven contests. While she was held without a shot against Colorado, Douglas has registered at least one goal in her last three home matches and will be a player to watch on Thursday.

Last Friday, the Golden Bears opened conference play in the most difficult way imaginable; facing the No. 1 ranked UCLA Bruins on the road. But despite an eventual 4-2 loss, the visitors looked strong against the nation’s top team, keeping the score close for most of the contest.

Before dropping their first and only conference match, Cal started the 2022 campaign with a 5-1-3 mark and was riding a three-match winning streak, during which they didn’t allow a single goal. The only ranked opponent the Golden Bears saw during the non-conference slate was then-No. 14 ranked Pepperdine Waves, with who they drew 1-1.

Cal’s top scorer is senior forward/midfielder Keely Roy, who notched four goals and an assist in ten matches this season. Sophomore forwards Karlie Lema and Ari Manrique form a strong supporting cast on offense, as they have each scored two goals and a helper through ten appearances.

Sophomore defender Ayo Oke has established herself as the Golden Bears’ main playmaker with four assists – tied for third-most in the Pac-12 – in nine matches. However, if given a scoring opportunity, Oke will likely take it, as she has recorded five shots on goal this season, the most among Cal’s defenders.

Much like last week, ASU is pitted against a conference foe that has given them trouble in recent years; in the past six seasons, the Sun Devils have gone 1-4-1 against Cal. But ASU will look to its dynamic offense to capture its fifth consecutive win of the season.