For the first time this season, the ASU women’s soccer team will play in front of a national television audience.
And the Sun Devils need to play their best soccer of the season, because they are facing off against their toughest foe of in the country — unanimous No. 1 Stanford.
Several of ASU’s players said there’s no pressure on them, despite the game being on TV.
“It’s nice to be able to come into a game like that you’re supposed to lose, and so you have no pressure onto you, you can just come out and play,” sophomore forward Devin Marshall said.
“You go up against them and it shows you where you’re at yourselves,” redshirt junior forward Sierra Cook said. “It’s always nice being the underdog, no one expects you to win, so you don’t have the pressure.”
The game is broadcasted on Fox Soccer Channel on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. local time. Since some television viewers do not receive this channel, the game will be made available on a tape-delayed broadcast to local residents at 9:30 p.m. on FSN Arizona.
Team finding offensive playmakers
When ASU lost leading goal-scorer Alexandra Doller for the season with an ACL tear, the Sun Devils were not sure where to turn offensively at first.
Three other forwards, all with starts under their belt, were still rehabbing from injuries. And slowly but surely, all three have returned to the Sun Devils lineup.
Marshall, redshirt sophomore forward Nicki Stone, and redshirt junior forward Courtney Tinnin are back and can spark ASU’s attack.
In Marshall’s second game back from an ankle injury, she scored two goals, giving her three on the season.
Both of Stone’s goals this season (and her career) won games for ASU in the second half. Stone put away South Carolina on a rebounded free kick and knocked off Colorado with a goal on a penalty kick.
Tinnin has two assists in her short time on the field, including one on Sunday.
“When you have Devin in there, she does a lot of good things to make a difference for everyone else,” head coach Kevin Boyd said. “Same with Tinnin, she makes a big difference, and Nicki makes a big difference. So when we were losing those guys it was hard.
“I’m so happy to have them back. We’re just a different team when they’re out there.”
Cook, who was recently taken out of the starting lineup, played one of her best games as a Sun Devil on Sunday and scored two goals against Oregon.
“I haven’t scored myself in a while so putting a couple away is really nice, to get that confidence back with myself as well,” Cook said.
Those two goals gave her five for the season, tying her with Doller for the team lead. ASU is 3-0 and has outscored their opponents 14-0 when Cook scores.
Tullock’s jersey to be retired
Two weeks ago Stacey Tullock became the first women’s soccer player to be inducted into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame.
On Friday, she’ll be the first soccer player to have her jersey retired when Sun Devil soccer retires her No. 21.
Tullock is ASU’s all-time leader in most offensive categories, such as goals, assists, and points.
“Pink Out”
Earlier in the month, NFL players wore everything from pink wristbands to pink gloves to pink cleats for breast cancer awareness month.
Now Sun Devil soccer is asking all fans attending Friday’s game to come dressed in pink.
For the annual “Pink Out” game, fans that show up wearing pink will be granted admission for a reduced price, all to show support.
Reach the reporter at justin.janssen@asu.edu Click here to subscribe to the daily State Press newsletter.
