The ASU women's soccer team is ready to kick off its 2007 season and begin a new era this weekend.
After finishing last season with a record of 8-8-3 (3-5-1) and finishing seventh in the Pac-10, ASU hired former California coach Kevin Boyd to help the team take the necessary steps to get back to the postseason.
The Sun Devils are picked to finish seventh in the preseason Pac-10 poll, but Boyd believes the team will make some noise in the conference as long as it continues make positive strides as the season goes along.
"Our primary goal is we want to get better every game, that's really what we're about," he said. "I believe with good development comes wins, so I would expect those would follow along."
The Sun Devils will play 11 non-conference matches before their conference schedule begins Oct. 12 against Washington.
The Pac-10 schedule will not be easy for the Sun Devils as the conference currently has four teams ranked in the Soccer Buzz preseason poll, including No. 2 UCLA, No. 6 Stanford, No. 14 USC and No. 19 Oregon.
"I think it's the deepest conference in the country," Boyd said. "Everyone wants to talk about the ACC who's usually one and we're two, but from top to bottom I think we're better."
The Sun Devils have a mixture of veterans and younger players that are expected to make an impact this season.
Boyd said that senior forward Courtney Crane, senior forward/midfielder Alissa Oldenkamp and junior defender Kylla Sjoman have been the leaders on the practice field so far.
"Those are the ones that to me have been standing out as being vocal and trying to push people," he said.
Crane said that she also feels she has a leadership role this season.
"I just want to be out there and give everything I have every day so the younger players can see that this is what you need to succeed," she said. "You need to give 100 percent all the time and work your butt off and love every second of it and that's what it's about."
However, Boyd also expects the freshmen to make a difference this season, especially midfielder Alex Elston and forward Erica Long.
"As a whole, I feel our freshmen are doing a good job so I'm hoping that they can shed the freshman skin really soon and be ready to impact quickly," he said.
On offense, the Sun Devils return many of their top threats from a year ago including Crane, who led the team in goals (5) and points(13).
Also returning are sophomore forward/defender Brittany Doty, who was second on the team in goals last season (4), and sophomore forward Dante Perea and Oldenkamp, who both tied for second in points scored (10).
On defense, the Sun Devils will have the task of replacing goalkeeper Kim Bingham, who ended her career last season ranked third in ASU history in total saves, goals against average and shut outs and was named to the All-Pac-10 First Team.
However, the Sun Devils do return a number of defenders from a 2006 team that set the ASU record for fewest goals allowed in a season, including starting seniors Kyleyn Felts and Lauren Niblett.
While there is a lot of talent returning and coming into the program, Boyd said it is still too early to evaluate the team's strengths from a playing standpoint.
"I think our strength is their attitude right now," he said. "I'll reserve judgment on what our strengths are for maybe a month into the season. I need to wait and really see them."
Crane agreed that the team does have a positive attitude and will play hard every game.
"We all have a lot of heart and a lot of passion," she said. "Everybody who's here wants to be here and wants to play and wants to give it their all."
While the Sun Devils have many obstacles to face this season including adjusting to a new coach and playing in one of the nation's top conferences, they still have their goals set high.
"The main [goal] is to make the playoffs . . . and to take it one game at a time," Oldenkamp said. "[We] don't [want to] worry about our second game or our tenth game or any [other] game."
Boyd agreed that making the postseason is a legitimate goal.
"I think any team that doesn't have their sight set on the karat is missing the boat," he said.
The 2007 season begins this weekend when the Sun Devils travel to Las Vegas for the UNLV Classic to take on Idaho State on Friday and UNLV on Sunday.
Reach the reporter at: gina.mizell@asu.edu.
