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ASU soccer forward Sara Tosti shines after position change

ASU tries to regain control of the ball as Cal State Northridge player Chloe McDaniel jumps to gain possession. (Photo by Arianna Grainey)
ASU tries to regain control of the ball as Cal State Northridge player Chloe McDaniel jumps to gain possession. (Photo by Arianna Grainey)

ASU tries to regain control of the ball as Cal State Northridge player Chloe McDaniel jumps to gain possession. (Photo by Arianna Grainey) ASU tries to regain control of the ball as California State Northridge player Chloe McDaniel jumps to gain possession. (Photo by Arianna Grainey)

Big things are expected from the ASU soccer team’s frontline featuring senior forward Devin Marshall and sophomore forward Cali Farquharson.

In ASU’s 2-0 season opening win against CSU Northridge, the third starting forward, sophomore Sara Tosti, stepped up by scoring her first career goal.

Coach Kevin Boyd said he thinks the goal will be the first of many for Tosti.

“The kid can score goals, and she just has a knack for it," Boyd said. "As she continues to improve, as she learns how to play through 90 minutes, some of those things she’ll just do better and better. I expect a lot from her in the next couple of years.”

Tosti is transitioning back to the frontline after playing defense last season and said she prefers playing forward.

“Playing up top definitely gives me a lot more freedom,” Tosti said. “I feel like I’m able to get up more without worrying about a player getting back. It’s nice to be able to use my speed and skill to get up and beat players down the line instead of worrying about another player beating me.”

Tosti’s nifty goal impressed her teammates, including Farquharson.

“It was so beautiful,” Farquharson said. “I’m so happy for Sara. She’s going to be a great addition to this club; she’s super creative.”

Marshall taken out for precautionary measures

With about 24 minutes remaining in the season opener, Marshall was taken out the game after being hit in a collision.

ASU led relatively comfortably with a two-goal margin, so Boyd opted on the safe side with Marshall, removing her from the game.

Marshall also picked up a yellow card in the first half. Receiving a red card would have forced her out of the game and made her ineligible for the next game.

“She got killed late twice, and I didn’t want her to get injured or get a red card,” Boyd said. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with the officiating. I just thought when we were (leading) 2-0, it was safer to get her off the field than to leave her out there in harm’s way.”

Minutes earlier Marshall collided with CSU Northridge defender Chloe McDaniel, who had to be taken out of the game with an injury.

Roster moves

German defenders Christina Schedel and Nina Brueggemann are no longer on the team after appearing in 16 and 17 games respectively in 2012 as freshmen.

Boyd said they had difficulties adjusting into the new country.

“They both got homesick,” Boyd said. “They were around each other, so you could say one affected the other with the homesickness and went home based on that. It was just too big a transition for them.”

Junior forward Ali Doller, who played her freshman season at ASU and then her sophomore year at Paradise Valley Community College, now plays for rival UA. She scored two goals and recorded an assist for the Wildcats in their first game.

Defender Alina Cheatham, who did not play last season as a freshman, transferred to UC Riverside. She recorded an assist in their first game.

Junior forward Sarah Van Horn is no longer on the team, after appearing in 19 games over two seasons.

 

Reach the reporter at justin.janssen@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @jjanssen11


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