(Photo By: Hazel Foubert/WCSN)
Arizona State Women’s Soccer: Preparing for Big 12 Success
As the Arizona State Women’s Soccer team approaches its debut Big 12 season, ASU is building momentum and displaying a balanced and efficient offensive strategy. With an impressive 5-0-2 record behind 19 goals and 18 assists over their first seven games, the Sun Devils offense has been a standout force. As they enter conference play, their strong attack, combined with a disciplined defense, could make them a strong contender in the Big 12.
Arizona State’s offense has been the driving force behind their early success averaging 2.71 goals per game. Key players like freshman forward Kierra Blundell and junior midfielder Enasia Colon have been central to the team’s attacking output. Blundell has netted five goals and provided three assists, while Colon has contributed four goals and three assists. Both players have consistently threatened opposing defenses, with Blundell boasting a 47.1% shot-on-goal percentage and Colon leading the team with 16 shots on target.
Junior forward Cameron Valladares has been another crucial figure in attack, with four goals and three assists of her own. Her 57.1% shots-on-goal percentage is the highest on the team of all players with a minimum of five shots taken. That number shows how adept she is at putting her attempts on target and creating dangerous opportunities. Keri Matthews has also had some major contributions with three goals and three assists of her own, giving Arizona State a balanced attack with multiple weapons for head coach Graham Winkworth to choose from.
The Sun Devils’ offense has been highly productive, averaging 18.9 shots per game and totaling 132 shots, placing them among the top 31 teams in the nation in shots per game average. However, their 46.2% shot on-goal percentage shows that there is still room for improvement in terms of finishing, especially as they head into the Big 12 and prepare to play against much tougher defenses.
Defensively, Arizona State has been effective, conceding only four goals in seven games, averaging just 0.57 goals against per game. The defensive group is led by junior goalie Pauline Nelles, who has played every minute and recorded 24 saves. The backline has been stout as well, limiting their opponents to just 55 total shots, an average of 7.9 shots per game.
Key defensive players like defenders junior Grace Gillard, senior Olivia Coleman, and freshman Ella Kettles have provided stability in the back, with Gillard and Coleman playing significant minutes and anchoring the defensive unit. Gillard, in particular, has been a rock at the heart of the defense, playing 530 minutes over seven games. It is important to note that of the Sun Devils, nine games played(two of which were exhibition) only one came against a true power 5 team in SEC school LSU. Against the Tigers, the Sun Devils went into the half having conceded two goals. As the group heads into its Big 12 campaign, ASU can expect a heightened level of attacking talent that they will face.
Midfield Contributions: Creative and Productive
In the midfield, players like freshman Addison Haws and Colon have been pivotal in controlling the tempo and linking defense to attack. Haws has contributed two assists and seven shots, while Colon has provided the aforementioned three assists and four goals of her own. The midfield’s ability to transition the ball and set up the forwards while also disrupting any sort of counterattacks that their opponents have had has been one of the Sun Devils’ strengths, as seen in their 18 assists compared to opponents’ three against them.
Graduate midfielder Maddie Shafer has also been a contributing playmaker, tallying one assist while maintaining a 75% shot-on-goal accuracy. This midfield depth has allowed Arizona State to spread the ball around the field to multiple different players, making it difficult for opposing teams to try and shut down the ASU counterattacks.
Arizona State has shown that when playing at its best it can compete with the best, thanks to a combination of offensive depth, defensive discipline, and a well-rounded midfield. However, as the Sun Devils enter Big 12 play, they’ll potentially need to fine-tune their shot efficiency and defensive focus to match up against some of the conference’s top teams like Oklahoma State, Colorado, and Texas Tech. If they can continue to build on their strong start, the Sun Devils are poised to be a formidable force in the Big 12.
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