If there were ever a time for optimism in the six-year history of the ASU soccer program, this is the year for it.
The Sun Devils will begin their seventh season as the No. 4 pick in the Pac-10, their highest ranking ever. But that's not where the preseason accolades stop.
ASU is ranked No. 22 in the national preseason polls by Soccer America Magazine and No. 23 by Soccer Buzz Magazine. However, according to head coach Randy Leone, preseason rankings mean nothing because they aren't earned.
ASU can begin to earn that ranking at 7 p.m. today when taking on No. 25 Pepperdine at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
"We haven't proven anything," Leone said. "Pepperdine had a great season last year and earned their ranking. That's our challenge this year, trying to earn something."
Besides the high preseason rankings, ASU has garnered honors in the recruiting department with the nation's fourth-best class, according to Soccer America Magazine and Soccer Buzz Magazine.
"ASU is a great place to go to school," Leone said. "When they (the recruits) saw the commitment level of the players here, they wanted to be a part of it."
A couple of big-name recruits making an impact for the Sun Devils include freshman midfielder Brittany Cooper and freshman forward Elizabeth Bogus, who Leone referred to as a "frontrunner from Utah who is a very strong player."
Leone expects Bogus to play up front with junior forward Patrice Feulner.
"She's really fast and she's got a lot of skill," Feulner said. "I'm excited to play up top with her. We'll be able to score a lot together and will compliment each other."
A good compliment is exactly what Feulner needs upon leading the Sun Devils in goals and overall scoring last year. After a season-opening hat trick against Baylor, the third of her career, Feulner was named to Soccer America's Team of the Week and to the Soccer Buzz Elite Feet Team of the Week. The hat trick sparked the forward from St. Charles, Ill., to an 11-goal, 25-point season.
"Patrice has a natural feel for scoring goals," Leone said. "And she doesn't just score goals, but helps defend too. She's an excellent overall player."
Another returning impact player is sophomore forward Stephanie Peel. As a freshman, she earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors.
"Peel is a very versatile player," Leone said. "She can play anywhere, and is a tireless worker. She was the team rookie of the year and played every minute of every game. She does anything for the team."
In addition to a great recruiting class, the Sun Devils have a new face to help them in the coaching department. First-year assistant Sarah Crawford comes to ASU after spending a season at Florida State as a team manager. The former Seminole goalie, who holds single-season school records in wins (14) and goals against average (1.23), will serve primarily as a trainer for goalkeepers.
"We absolutely love her," said Kelly Fitzgerald, ASU's opening-day goaltender. "She's a great addition to the team, and the girls get along with her really well. She's very experienced and knows what she's talking about."
Entering the 2002 season, Leone is faced with the difficult task of bringing a young team through the ropes. Only one senior and four juniors fill a team built primarily of underclassmen.
"Experience is definitely going to play a big role in development," Leone said. "I hope we can learn fast."
The Sun Devils are looking to start the season on the right foot after a disheartening effort in 2001 when they came up just shy of qualifying for the NCAA tournament.
"It's important that upperclassmen step up to lead and get them (lower classmen) on the right track, but it needs to be a group effort," Feulner said.
Last year was not without excitement though, as all nine of ASU's Pac-10 games were decided by one goal or less. The Sun Devils finished conference play with a 4-4-1 record.
"I'm disappointed with last year, but we did it to ourselves," Leone said. "We lost a lot of games during the middle of the season, and overall against West region teams, we didn't play as well.
"We're trying to motivate ourselves to do better this year. The girls have done lots of off-season conditioning on their own, and the individual commitment is very high."
ASU will have five weeks of non-conference games before beginning Pac-10 play. This year, the Sun Devils will have to face several top teams, like UCLA, Stanford and Washington, if they wish to become one of the Pac-10's elite and reach their goal of making the postseason.
"There were 64 teams in the tournament last year, and we were about No. 65," Leone said. "This year, we play 13 of our 19 games against NCAA tournament contenders from the past, so it's a great schedule for us to prove ourselves."
In the only meeting between the schools last year, ASU lost to Pepperdine, 3-0. The Waves went on to make the NCAA tournament, where they advanced past USC before falling to UCLA.
Pepperdine capped a 12-5-3 season with a fifth-place finish in the West Coast Conference. The Waves ended the year ranked No. 20 by Soccer Buzz Magazine.
Tullock selected for tryout: Former ASU All-American Stacey Tullock has been named one of 24 players that will be given a chance to make the U.S. Women's Soccer National Team. Tullock and 23 other players will train in Columbus, Ohio for four days, before the U.S. faces Scotland on Sept. 8. National head coach April Heinrichs will pick 18 of 24 players to suit up for a match against Scotland, which will be broadcast live on ESPN.
The matchup, which will mark the first-ever between the two countries, will serve as preparation for the Americans in their quest toward the 2002 NIKE U.S. Women's Cup and the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup.
For Tullock, it will mark her first appearance with the full national team. She spent this past season playing for the Philadelphia Charge in the Women's United Soccer Association.
During her time with the Sun Devils, Tullock topped the record books by accumulating 50 goals and 25 assists for 125 career points. Her goal tally more than doubles that of any other player in school history.
Reach the reporter at casey.pritchard@asu.edu.
