No. 24 ASU prepares for bout against No. 2 UCLA in Tempe

(Photo: Sammy Nute/WCSN)

It would not be a bold affirmation to say that the No. 24 Arizona State soccer’s game against No. 2 UCLA, the defending NCAA champions, on Sunday in Tempe will be the most substantial opportunity for a national statement in recent memory. This group may be, one of, if not the best edition of Sun Devil soccer in head coach Graham Winkworth’s seven-year tenure in the Valley of the Sun.

ASU has already surpassed its 2022 win total of nine — and tied for the highest win total ever achieved in Winkworth’s tenure — when they tallied its 10th victory of the year against No. 11 USC 1-0 on Thursday. Now the Sun Devils stare up at what is likely their steepest peak to ascend, against the Bruins on the weekend. Following the monumental win Thursday night graduate captain defender Lieske Carleer recognized the chance for her team to prove their merit against one of the nation’s elite teams.

“We’re going to prepare for UCLA,” Carleer said. “They’re a really good team, different challenge for us, but it’s a great opportunity to measure ourselves against one of the best in the country.”

The Sun Devils have already shown on multiple occasions this year they’re more than capable of competing against ranked teams. They have multiple notable wins namely against the Trojans and then-No. 24 Washington State Cougars a 5-1 thrashing in Tempe. Even ASU’s lone two losses have been impressive. Only No. 5 Stanford, and No. 6 Texas Tech have bested Winkworth’s side and they were competitive in those matches. In both games, it took late second-half scores to put away ASU, yet it has to look out of place at any point this year even against some of the country’s premier programs.

An ASU win in its next match would be immense for the national rankings and postseason implications. The Sun Devils would likely be propelled to a top-15 ranking which would be the highest in the Winkworth era. The USC win, on Thursday, in the mind of Winkworth already secured his team’s tournament resume.

“We do currently have two top 50 wins,” Winkworth said. “I would say that if we are in the bubble, or above the bubble… this tonight should, for me, cement it.”

Now the Sun Devils get UCLA, the cream of the crop, a team looking indestructible at the moment. Second-year coach Margueritte Aozasa — the reigning Pac-12 coach of the year — has created a juggernaut in Westwood. They haven’t lost in their last 10 games dating back to August. The Bruins have outscored their opponents 35 to four during that span including seven shutouts, and five times scoring four or more goals in a game.

The conference statistical leaderboard is littered with Bruins. UCLA’s stellar strike partnership of senior Reilyn Turner and graduate Ally Cook both rank in the top five in the Pac-12 in goals with nine and eight respectively. Junior defender Quincy McMahon’s seven assists lead the conference and sophomore goalie Neeku Purcell ranks third in the conference in goals against average.

The accolades are numerous as well. The Bruins feature four players who were selected for the U-23 U.S Youth national team: McMahon, Turner, junior defender Lilly Reale, and graduate midfielder Sunshine Fontes. Reale is the reigning Pac-12 Defender of the Year and is one of six returning players who made one of the three all-conference teams last year.

The task may seem daunting on its face but there is a way for the Sun Devils to compete with the powerhouse. ASU will likely have to rely on its star sophomore goalie Pauline Nelles and the smothering defensive unit in front of her for a chance. Nelles made the all-Pac-12 third team and freshmen team last season in her first year in Tempe. She has only improved since then as her shutout Thursday against the Trojans was her ninth of the year, good for the ASU single-season record. As a team ASU’s eight goals against all season is tied with UCLA and Stanford for the lowest in the conference.

Thursday Winkworth opted for an adjusted scheme of a 4-back system in an attempt to divert more numbers to defensive duties and effectively nullify the dangerous Trojan attack. He will likely opt to go back to what works with that 4-back system against an even more potent UCLA front line to try to hold back the attack as much as possible.

If the Sun Devils can find a way to keep the game scoreless getting into the final stretch they may be able to find one magic goal and hold on for dear life for victory much like they did on Thursday. Redshirt senior midfielder Hannah Lapeire’s 71st-minute goal was all it took to secure the win that night for ASU due to the quality and firmness of its defensive unit.

Many have tried and failed to slow down the UCLA blitzing style of play, but if any team will do it, it will be the Sun Devils. Lapeire said the focal point of this team is how well they keep clean sheets in the back as of late. They’ll need to play the game of their lives and stick together to hold back the lethal attack coming their way and produce a respectable result on Sunday.

“I think we really pride ourselves on defense, especially the last few games,” Lapeire said. “It’s definitely a team effort… we’re rolling so we’re happy about it.”