The Arizona State women’s soccer team looks to bounce back after a disappointing season last year, finishing bottom of the table with a record of 0-9-2 in conference play. Last season was the first time ever the ASU women’s soccer team did not win a game in conference play since it first joined what was then the Pac-10 in 1997. The Sun Devils look to bounce back strong for the 2020/2021 campaign with some new additions and key players returning.
The Sun Devils finished last season with an overall record of 6-11-3. In those 20 games, ASU managed to net 33 goals while allowing 32, equating to a season goal differential of only plus one. ASU managed to get 30 assists, 86 saves and a shot on goal percentage of 0.371%. Even though the Sun Devils scored four more goals than last season, they also conceded 10 more goals and had a 0.504% shots on goal percentage.
The Sun Devils’ main loss for the 2020/2021 campaign season is junior forward and midfielder Marleen Schimmer, who transferred to Grand Canyon University. With ASU last season, Schimmer played in 17 games, and started in 15. She was second on the team in goals with six, assists with four and shots on goal with 17. For a team that managed to score seven goals in conference play, with three coming from Schimmer, her offensive presence will be missed.
Despite the loss of Schimmer, ASU retained several key players. First in the attacking role is sophomore Dai Williams and junior Nicole Douglas. Douglas led the team in goals with eight and was tied second in assists with four last season. She also played and started in all 20 games. Williams played in 19 games, starting in 10 of those. Williams netted five goals good enough for third-highest on the team along with two assists. Both players are looking to build off an impressive 2019 season.
For the maestros in the midfield, juniors Eva Van Deursen and Alexia Delgado look to control the center of the field. Van Deursen played in 17 games, starting in 15. While she only managed to score three goals on the season, Van Deursen led the team in assists with six. Delgado played in all 20 games and came off the bench in three games. She managed two goals and two assists on the season.
On defense, sophomores Callie Darst and Lieske Carleer look to hold down the fort for this spring. Darst started all 20 games for the Sun Devils last season, and even contributed to the Sun Devil offense with an assist. Carleer started 17 games last season and just like Darst, managed to also factor into the offense with two assists.
Rounding out the Sun Devil side in goal is sophomore Giulia Cascapera, who started 18 games last season in maroon and gold. Cascapera had 78 saves, allowing only 27 goals of the 105 shots on target.
The ASU women’s soccer team added five new players to the roster for this season. First is the junior German national Vildan Kardesler who will boost the attacking play for the Sun Devils. Kardesler transferred from the University of Pittsburgh after scoring five goals, including one against No. 3 ranked North Carolina.
The Sun Devils also signed a new goalkeeper, freshman Pia Bozic. The first-year keeper was ranked one of the top 11 players in Slovenia, qualified for the women’s champions league in 2018 and got second place in the 2018-2019 senior league with her club WFC Olimpija Ljubljana.
Tahlia Hermann-Watt, a freshman fullback and defender joins the Sun Devils from Rangiora, New Zealand. Hermann-Watt earned 2017 Midfielder of the Year and 2019 Young Player of the Year with her club team. At Rangiora High School, Hermann-Watt earned MVP of the team in 2015-2018.
Another international signing in the defense is freshman Lucy Johnson from Nottingham, Enlgand. Johnson played in the Euro finals for the England U17 squad as well as the FA Cup Quarterfinals with her club team Leicester City WFC.
British Columbia native freshman Jazmine Wilkinson looks to provide a boost in the midfield. In 2018, Wilkinson played in the Vancouver Island Wave Provincial Championship game, she won Freshman and Junior Athlete of the Year for her high school and in 2014 led her team to become the 2014 Upper Island Storm Provincial Champions.
This Sun Devils team is looking to improve on last season. With a strong foundation built on many key players returning, the team gains additional depth with its new players, the squad is looking to bring a winning culture back to ASU women’s soccer. This roster looks poised to build off last season’s struggles and have a strong 2020 campaign. The Sun Devils will kick off their 16 game season with a home opener against the University of Texas El Paso on February 4 at 7:00 p.m.
