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ASU soccer benefitting from humble scoring extraordinaire Cali Farquharson

Junior forward Cali Farquharson dribbles past Kansas defenders in the Sun Devils’ 2-2 draw to the Jayhawks on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2012. (PHOTO COURTSEY OF STEVE RODRIGUEZ)
Junior forward Cali Farquharson dribbles past Kansas defenders in the Sun Devils’ 2-2 draw to the Jayhawks on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2012. (PHOTO COURTSEY OF STEVE RODRIGUEZ)

Junior forward Cali Farquharson dribbles past Kansas defenders in the Sun Devils’ 2-2 draw to the Jayhawks on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2012. (PHOTO COURTSEY OF STEVE RODRIGUEZ) Junior forward Cali Farquharson dribbles past Kansas defenders in the Sun Devils’ 2-2 draw to the Jayhawks on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2012. (PHOTO COURTSEY OF STEVE RODRIGUEZ)

Junior forward Cali Farquharson was recently named the Pac–12 player of the week, coming off a weekend in which she tallied five goals: two against New Mexico State and three in her second career hat trick in ASU’s game against Nevada. This is the first time she has been given this honor in her career.

“I was surprised," Farquharson said. "I forgot all about the Pac–12 player of the week, so when I heard the news, I was like, 'Oh. That's cool.' I wasn't overly ecstatic. I didn't really think about it. Scoring goals is nothing special.”

Farquharson is indeed no stranger to scoring goals. In both her freshman and sophomore years, she topped ASU’s goal scoring list with 10 each season.

She finds herself atop this list once again this season after scoring a goal in her last game against Cal State Northridge, her eighth of the season. At the pace she is scoring, she looks set to break her season high in goals scored, with nine more games to play in the regular season.

Head coach Kevin Boyd is impressed with the level of play that Farquharson brings to every game.

“The great thing about Cali is that whether its three goals or one goal or no goals, she plays at the same level all the time,” Boyd said. “Her work rate is very, very good. She's technical, and she's smart. That means there isn't variance in her game. I always know that we are going to get her best game from her, it comes out that way every single time.”

As the team prepares for conference play after finishing non-conference play with an impressive 7-1-1 record and a six game win streak, Farquharson described how the teams stellar play has helped their attitude.

“In previous years we have fallen to teams we shouldn't have lost to,” Farquharson said. “So this year it brings more confidence to the team, and a stronger mentality and a better culture. Right now we are focusing on one game at a time, one practice at a time. It’s exciting that it’s now conference play, but it is still the same as before.”

ASU prepares to host UCLA, the Sun Devils' first conference opponent this season. The Bruins boast an 8-0-1 record and have been undefeated in their past 30 games. They're also the 2013 NCAA champions.

Some players might be anxious to open conference play against the vaunted defending champions, but Farquharson said she is not phased in the least.

“We are just gonna go in, one game at a time,” Farquharson said. “They are just another opponent. We don't want to look at the jersey or the rankings, we just want to focus on how we are going to play against them.”

The game against UCLA will only be the Sun Devils' third home game of the season, giving them a huge opportunity at home.

“I love playing at home,” Farquharson said. “The atmosphere from all our fans, it’s our field that we practice on and play on every day, so it just adds to the experience. You’re more comfortable at home, you want to win at home, so I would say its pretty exciting.”

Farquharson is now a junior and has matured a lot since her freshman year. She now has the responsibility to help the younger players on the team, and she has the experience to do so.

“I’m an upperclassman, which is weird, because usually I have been able to look up to the upperclassman, but now I’m in that position,” Farquharson said. “You really just have to learn how to address different people, and you have to let them know what the expectations are. The freshman are really stepping up, and the underclassman are really understanding what we expect from them, and they are following through. So it’s very impressive.”

Farquharson's humble approach to leadership is quietly making an impact on her younger teammates.

“I think everyone is a leader in their own way,” she said.

As the team begins conference play, reaching the playoffs is on the team's mind, and Farquharson is very optimistic.

“I have high hopes for us,” Farquharson said. “We’ve been playing really well, and we are really deep. By this time last year a lot of us were pretty tired already, so it should be really exciting conference play, and I think we are going to do very well.”

Boyd knows he has something special with the talented Farquharson.

“She’s special,” Boyd said. “She’s just something different. I’m telling people that they need to come see her, because she’s here for year and a half, and if they miss her play, they are missing something special.”

 

Reach the reporter at mtsteine@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @MarcTSteiner

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