To advance in today’s Pac-10 conference, a team must have hunger.

A taste for victory and an appetite for success can help too.

Last season left the ASU women’s soccer team hungry for more.

Boasting a 10-9-1 record under the direction of new coach Kevin Boyd, the Sun Devils recorded double-digit victories for the first time in five years. That record placed the team in a tie for fifth in the Pac-10 and put them on the edge of an NCAA tournament qualification.

“We felt like we should have been in the tournament last year,” said junior defender Liz Harkin. “So this season we are coming out with a sort of chip on our shoulder.

“We want to leave no doubt that we should be a part of the tournament this year.”

With a new coach and a new program in 2007, the team was on a bit of a learning curve.

Boyd, who is beginning his second season in Tempe, is the former coach of Pac-10 rival California. His resume includes 10 seasons with the Golden Bears and eight NCAA tournament appearances as well as a career record of 134-72-21.

The transition has been a successful one, as the Sun Devils have done nothing but improve since he was hired.

The team traveled north for their season opener Friday against NAU.

The Sun Devils charged back from a one-goal deficit to top the Lumberjacks, 4-2.

Sophomore forward Karin Volpe—who led the team with five goals in 2007—tied her single-game career-high with two goals.

“I really just plan to keep working hard in every practice,” Volpe said. “Hopefully it will show in the game and I can add some points to the score.”

Sophomore midfielders Alexandra Elston and Jill Shoquist each added one to the final tally, advancing ASU to a 5-1 all-time record against NAU.

“We are a very well-rounded team,” Harkin said. “We just need to continue to bring all the parts together, because if one falls apart then we won’t be … successful.”

Junior goalkeeper Katie Cochran made six saves in the first career start, including one against a Lumberjack penalty kick. This matchup against NAU proved that Cochran was able to continue the team’s two-year trend of strong goalkeepers.

Last season, junior Briana Silvestri was assigned to replace goalkeeper Kim Bingham, who set the single-season school record for best goals against average (0.86) in 2006.

The Sun Devils return key players: senior defender Kylla Sjoman, junior midfielder Carly Kallas and sophomore midfielder Alexandra Elston as well as Volpe and Harkin. The team also welcomes eight true freshmen.

Reach the reporter at emiley.darling@asu.edu