A loss to any conference rival is always hard to swallow, but when a chance for redemption is granted, there is nothing sweeter than winning when it counts.
That is the mission of the ASU (11-6-2) soccer team this weekend when they compete in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Washington State.
The Cougars (11-6-2) finished off the season with victories in four of their last five games including a 1-0 triumph over ASU in Tempe.
ASU will return to the tournament for the first time since 2000, when they made their only other appearance in school history.
"Both teams have something to prove since we both didn't get in last year," ASU head coach Ray Leone said. "It doesn't make it easier that we've already played them, but it makes for less preparation time."
In 2000, the Sun Devils won a first round home match over Southwest Missouri State only to fall to Portland to end their run. Five current Sun Devils participated in that tournament, including junior midfielder Patrice Feulner.
"It's definitely important having two tournament games under our belt, we know that it's do or die," Feulner said. "With the younger players we're just trying to keep them calm because everyone is so excited. We know we have to play and play composed like we did the whole season."
Eighteen members of the ASU team have never seen postseason play, but experience has not been a problem considering all three of ASU's top scorers are freshman. Forward Elizabeth Bogus leads the team with 21 points while midfielders Manya Makoski and Brittany Cooper have 18 and 13 points apiece.
Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, their vulnerability lies in lack of competitive play for an entire 90 minutes, something that will be a must this weekend.
"Lots of crazy things have happened," Leone said. "You have to use everything you've learned for this purpose solely. Now it's the real thing, this is it."
"We treat it kind of like any other big game because we don't want to psych ourselves out," Bogus said. "It's exciting that we get another chance at Washington State."
On Nov. 1, the Cougars beat ASU on what was one of the Sun Devils worst showings this season.
"We just have to play," Leone said. "You are not going to hit it over their head because they drop off so much so it's hard to get it behind them. It's going to be a challenge."
"If you can't turn on the intensity during the game you have something wrong with you."
Reach the reporter at casey.pritchard@asu.edu.
