Despite the disappointing season for the ASU soccer team, it fully expects to win games this weekend against two teams with playoff aspirations.
Both players and coaches on the team sounded confident heading into the weekend series against Washington State (10-6-2, 4-3-1 Pac-12) and Washington (6-7-4, 2-4-2).
“The funny thing is, on books it’ll look like an upset win (if ASU wins),” coach Kevin Boyd said. “In my mind it’s not. I think we should be beating these people.”
The seniors on the team agreed with their coach and hope to come out energized in their last home games of the season.
“I’m not stepping onto the field to do anything but win,” senior defender Kate Sangster said. “It’s my last time playing on the field so I want to come off feeling like I played my best game and knowing we came out with a win.”
“We’re expecting to come out and win both games,” senior defender Kari Shane said. “We’re not going to back down to anything,”
On Friday, ASU hosts the surprising Washington State. They were originally predicted to finish below ASU in the Pac-12, but are now in 5th place.
Washington State’s season looked even more promising before last weekend, but they lost to both Oregon schools and dropped out of the NSCAA top-25 poll.
Washington State can ill-afford to extend their two-game losing streak, as they’re not a guaranteed lock for the playoffs.
“They’re very much vying for a playoff spot and are going to have some motivation based on that,” Boyd said. “(Washington State is a) well-organized, tough team. They’re very disciplined and defend well and counter well and they got some good attacking players.”
On Sunday, ASU will have their Senior Day against Washington. The Huskies probably need to win out to have a chance at making the NCAA tournament.
ASU made the NCAA tournament last year with a 9-7-3 record, almost the same mark Washington would have if they won their remaining three games.
But Boyd said that winning out would be tough for them, especially when they play in Tempe.
“I think we could be really dangerous this weekend. I don’t think we’re a team that somebody’s going to want (to play) if they’re backed up trying to make playoffs.
“We represent our school and we should be playing to the best of our ability. Every one of these players should have a little bit of an ego about where they expect our program to be.”
Senior Night means that seniors will play on the home field for the last time. The veteran soccer players are sad to see the season winding down.
“There are so many memories that have taken place on this field that I’m just excited to finish it up with a good weekend,” Shane said.
“I’m really sad that it’s coming to an end. The same time, I just want us to come out and finish our season really strong.”
Shane suffered a concussion earlier this week, but is expected to play in both games.
Her fellow defender Sangster feels the season and her career as a Sun Devil went by too fast.
“I feel like I just started as a freshman not too long ago,” Sangster said. “It went really fast, too fast.”
Reach the reporter at justin.janssen@asu.edu
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