The ASU men's soccer club began the season with big goals and high expectations after it finished No. 9 in the country last season.
But after finishing fourth in the Southwestern Conference this season, the Sun Devils (5-6-3) just hope they can end with some momentum for next year.
The club will complete its season as one of 20 teams competing in the men's open division of the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association Collegiate Soccer Sport Club Championships, which is being held today through Saturday in Austin, Texas.
"We haven't had the season we would have liked to," junior midfielder Charles Silvestri said. "We just want to finish on a high note so we can set the tone for next year."
The Sun Devils begin pool play today at 10 a.m. against Southern Illinois. They will then battle Texas Southern at 4 p.m. ASU's final game of pool play will be against the University of Virginia on Friday at noon.
Sophomore defender Jeremy Moore said the team will have to focus on playing intelligently throughout the tournament.
"It's going to be a fun time, but we need to work on playing composed and possessing the ball," he said. "If we do that well, everything should be fine."
The tournament starts with five pools of four teams. The winner of each pool, along with three wildcard teams, will compete in the quarterfinals Friday at 7 p.m. The semifinal round will be held Saturday at 8 a.m., and the final round will be held at 1 p.m.
Although the team's record was disappointing this season, not everything went wrong for ASU. The Sun Devils continued to show determination and a strong work ethic, though inconsistent play and injuries often plagued them.
Moore said the team's positive attitude was a good reflection of the club's character.
"I think we've always played hard, even though things haven't gone our way," he said.
Silvestri said the team had taken steps in the right direction throughout the season, and the players were working well on the field together.
Reach the reporter at jeremy.a.cluff@asu.edu.
