(Photo by Aaron Lavinsky)After missing the postseason last year for the first time since 2008, the ASU women's soccer team is hungry for a bounce back 2012 campaign and a return to the NCAA Tournament.
Led by coach Kevin Boyd, the Sun Devils brought in 13 newcomers this season. Boyd knows that the success of the Sun Devils' season relies heavily on team chemistry.
“Our most important thing this year is our ability to blend and play together, and play to the style we want to,” Boyd said. “We just need to come together and play as a team.”
Leading the newcomers is freshman forward Cali Farquharson, who scored two second-half goals last Friday night against NAU in only her second career collegiate game.
Farquharson, a local product out of Shadow Mountain High School is a key offensive weapon for the Sun Devils alongside junior forward Devin Marshall.
Marshall, expected to be the leading scorer this season for the Sun Devils, missed seven games last season due to an injured ankle.
She has already started the season off right, though, scoring a pair of goals against NAU.
Boyd knows how critical it is for Farquharson, Marshall and the rest of the ASU attack to stay consistent up front throughout the season.
“We are trying to train our attack to get what we got out of Cali and Devin against NAU on a consistent basis,” Boyd said.
The defensive changes include the signing of a pair of German center-backs — freshmen Nina Brueggemann and Christina Schedel.
Boyd believes the two international players will be nice additions in the center of the Sun Devils' modified 4-3-3 formation.
“Nina and Christina fit perfectly into the center-backs of our formation,” Boyd said.
The midfield, led by senior Taylor McCarter and junior Holland Crook, are hoping to be the glue in the center of the field for the Sun Devils. McCarter was selected to the All-Pac-10 second team in 2010 and earned All-Pac-12 third-team honors in 2011.
With the departures of goalkeepers Alyssa Gillmore and Vittoria Arnold, redshirt freshman Chandler Morris has been given the starting position by Boyd.
Nothing is set in stone, though, according to Boyd. Western Illinois transfer sophomore Liz Schulze and junior walk-on Melissa Brennan will also vie for time in the net.
“Whoever is the best is going to play,” Boyd said. “Hopefully they all continue to improve and gain confidence.”
The Sun Devils' schedule is front-loaded with road games, just another test for Boyd's young team.
“Having five on the road to begin the season is never perfect or ideal, but it is what it is,” Boyd said. “In some ways it's good and I would rather travel early in the season before our fatigue sets in.”
If the 2012 Sun Devils want to return to the NCAA Tournament, however, they will have to adjust with one another on the fly and reach their maximum potential.
Boyd knows it's not an easy task.
“I think we are very good and talented, but we do have a lot of young players that are trying to blend with the older players,” Boyd said. “We truly need our older players to lead by example to help teach on and off the field."
“Trying to get everybody to blend has been our biggest challenge so far,” Boyd added.
Reach the reporter at dsshap1@asu.edu
