ASU Soccer’s Meighan Farrell Changes Position for 2024 Season

(Photo: Xavier Litman/WCSN)

TEMPE — Early changes in a young season are typical for teams trying to perfect their lineup. It takes time to find the perfect alignment that will lead to success over a long season. This is no different for Arizona State Women’s Soccer in 2024.  

ASU head coach Graham Winkworth decided to make an adjustment that would put junior defender Meighan Farrell at center back, as opposed to her usual outside back position. Through two non-conference games in the young season, she has already played the role throughout the preseason and started ASU’s season opener, a 1-1 draw against Northern Arizona, in her new position.

The two roles fall under the same position group but different roles. 

“Outside back gets me more up the line,” Farrell said. “It gets me a part of the offense. Center back, I just have to say central, and resist the urge to go forward and help out my team.”

Farrell, already a strong defender, now has an opportunity to add to her arsenal of talent with this position change. Although this switch can be a slight challenge for the defender, it helped her advance her playing ability.

“It has definitely been a big change because that is the last line of defense to the goal,” Farrell said. “It also teaches me how to be more central. Me as a player, I’d say a strong suit is wide, but it’s definitely helped me learn and grow more.”

Farrell has a notable strength in communication which is a positive trait for a center back. However, her vocalness isn’t the only redeeming trait that fifth-year outside back and team captain Lucy Johnson sees in Farrell that allows her to succeed in that position.  

“It helps us play out from the back,” Johnson said. “She’s very good with the ball at her feet. She’s also a great 1v1 defender as well. When she’s sat behind me, I feel very comfortable to be able to get higher up the pitch and attack. I also know that she’s brilliant at communicating with me, so I feel comfortable with her sat behind me.” 

Winkworth’s decision to adjust Farrell’s position came after the summer as ASU began their preseason preparations. Farrell had played the more central role for her summer league team giving her the experience. Normally an aforementioned outside back, due to a slew of injuries for the Sun Devils, bringing that change to her college team was needed.

In soccer, teams generally align their defense in either a back four or a back three. In a back four, there are two central defenders flanked by two wide outside backs, where Farrell traditionally played. In a back three, there are no outside backs but only three centralized defenders with slightly more width between them. This alignment is where Winkwroth finds the most benefit in Farrell’s adjusted role. 

“She’s comfortable playing as a fullback,” Winkworth said. “I wouldn’t consider her a center back in a back four, I don’t think that plays to her strengths. In a back three, you need different qualities to play as an outside center back. It’s kind of a cross between a full back and a center back, and she possesses enough of the qualities to do that role.”

When asked how this benefits the team this season, Winkworth said  “She’s also comfortable on either side, so we can use her on the right or the left”

Farrell wouldn’t be able to make the position move alone. She relies on the support of those entering the pitch beside her wearing her same maroon and gold threads to lift her confidence in executing her new position for the Sun Devils. 

“Definitely the support of my teammates,” the junior defender said. “I would not be able to do it without them.”

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post