In a match last year at San Diego, the Sun Devils were shutout simply because they could not generate much offense.
But this season, ASU got to play on its own turf, and the outcome was different.
The Sun Devils scored twice Friday night against the Toreros. They hadn’t netted more than one goal in a game since Sept. 1 at New Mexico.
Sophomore Kelly Fitzgerald, who has spent all but six minutes in goal this season, posted the shutout to help give ASU’s offense enough confidence to find success at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
ASU’s first goal came by way of young talent. The Sun Devils got on the board in the 27th minute when freshman midfielder Brittany Cooper found freshman forward Elizabeth Bogus, who snuck one by sophomore goalkeeper Natalie Bobbit.
“It felt good,” Bogus said. “It was a good ball from (Cooper). I have to give her just as much credit.”
ASU head coach Ray Leone liked what he saw from Bogus, who has three goals on the season.
“She just brings a ton of attitude,” he said. “I’m not surprised. When we saw her play while we were recruiting her, she played all out, and she still plays the same as before.”
The win should help give the Sun Devils the confidence needed to open conference play next month.
“San Diego is a really good team,” Bogus said. “It’ll help us be more prepared for the Pac-10 games coming up.”
ASU junior defender Temryss Lane had similar sentiments.
“It was a season-breaking game for us,” she said. “We put it all out there, and it’s the start of something amazing.”
The game’s second goal had a veteran flavor to it. Lane, who entered as a sub for Bogus, tallied in the 35th minute on an assist from junior midfielder Haley van Blommestein.
“I had this funny feeling I was going to get a goal,” Lane said. “Haley gave it to me, and I laid it in. It was harder to miss than make.”
The Sun Devils couldn’t generate any points in the second half, but that didn’t stop them from trying. Leone was satisfied with his team’s seven-shot effort.
“It wasn’t the number of goals so much as the number of chances created,” he said. “They came to play on all cylinders.”
ASU is obviously starting to gel and play up to its fullest potential, as seen in its first two outings. The Sun Devils have not been shutout this season.
“It’s so much fun to play and come together as a team,” Bogus said.
Reach the reporter at katie.crane@asu.edu.
