Sun Devils take care of business in non-conference finale

(Photo: Xavier Litman/WCSN)

TEMPE — With Pac-12 play beginning for the final time next week, Arizona State Women’s Soccer (5-1-3) has strived to be prepared for a difficult conference season. Goal scoring has been hard to come by thus far, however, the floodgates opened Friday night in Tempe.

The Sun Devils earned their fifth win of the season under the Friday night lights in a match that finished 3-0 versus Colorado College (0-6-1), with ASU setting the tone early and not looking back.

Junior midfielder Keri Matthews set the tone with a headed goal 5 minutes into the match followed up by Senior Forward Bai Rennies’ rebound goal in the 54th minute, finally, the captain graduate defender Lieske Carleer put the game to bed with another headed goal in the 75th minute that edged over the goal line as she scored her first goal on the season.

Colorado College has struggled heavily so far this year, they are winless after seven matches with a draw against Denver being its only result.

Still, ASU head coach Graham Winkworth came away from the match pleased, as he’s impressed with his teams’ performance in the final match leading up to conference play.

“Really proud of the girls we did put in a lot of offensive opportunities a lot better and we got in behind the opposition better than we have the last week or two,” Winkworth said.

In the 59th minute just after ASU doubled its lead in the match, freshman defender Allison Carabin went down with a head injury in the 59th minute. Carabin was stretchered off the pitch, fortunately, Winkworth confirmed she was responsive and in the care of medical professionals.

Matthews was pleased with her teammates for rallying together behind Carabin to finish the match and take home the victory.

“We just reacted and said we’re gonna finish off the game for Allie and win the game for Allie because that’s what she would’ve wanted.”

Offensively the Sun Devils got after it on Friday, after five consecutive matches with just one goal scored or fewer, they managed to fire off 20 shots Friday night with 11 of those being on target. Winkworth wants his side to continue to be fearless in the attacking third of play and to take risks when in a good position.

“We try to get into our danger zone and today we were just right outside of the danger zone and trying to make passes to get into the zone, from coaches standpoint that’s great but sometimes we need to use a little intuition and just have a go.”

The defensive side of the game has been outstanding for ASU all season. Friday night was the sixth clean sheet this season and Carleer could not be more ecstatic with the defensive quality heading into Pac-12 play next week.

“I think tonight was great to build on going into [Pac-12 play], I think this was a great challenge for us and this gives us confidence going into Friday, “ Carleer said.

While the players appear to have momentum heading into their match against Oregon State, Winkworth wants to keep the heads of his players screwed on tight remembering to take a long season one match at a time.

“We got a whole week to prepare,” Winkworth said. “I haven’t really thought about Oregon State being such a young team we can’t look past the next game, sometimes less can be more, and hopefully rest will do us well before Oregon State.”