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ASU soccer up against OSU, UO for critical road stretch

Fireworks shoot into the air above Sun Devil Stadium, after ASU's last touchdown during the ASU vs. Oregon game Thursday night. (Photo by Kyle Newman)
Fireworks shoot into the air above Sun Devil Stadium, after ASU's last touchdown during the ASU vs. Oregon game Thursday night. (Photo by Kyle Newman)

Freshman forward Cali Farquharson (17) controls the ball with freshman mid-fielder Tommi Goodman (5) trailing in the Sun Devil’s 5-4 double overtime win over USC on Sept. 28. (Photo by Kyle Newman)

Junior forward Devin Marshall knows what’s at stake for the Sun Devil soccer team.

Win four of the last five matches and the NCAA tournament will come calling.

If the Sun Devils (6-8-1, 2-4-0 Pac-12) can’t do that, a second straight postseason omission will likely happen.

The road to the NCAA tournament starts this weekend in Oregon as the Sun Devils travel north to face the Beavers and Ducks in their final road games of the season.

Marshall thinks the Sun Devils are ready for the challenge that lies ahead, and is keeping a workwoman-like approach heading into the weekend.

“It’s still just a game at a time,” Marshall said. “I think everyone is working harder knowing that we have to win four of our last five games to make the playoffs.”

The Sun Devils played their first five matches on the road, and coach Kevin Boyd thinks the early road slate will help the team this weekend.

“I don’t think the road bothers us at all,” Boyd said. “We travel well and our Washington trip was successful.”

Friday’s opponent, Oregon State (10-4-1, 2-3-1 Pac-12) has struggled recently, winning only once in its past five matches.

The Beavers are led by junior forward Jenna Richardson and senior midfielder Megan Miller, who have led the team with five goals each this season.

Regardless of their recent struggles, Boyd knows the Beavers and Richardson pose as no easy task for the Devils.

“They are a good team and have a terrific player up-top in Jenna Richardson,” Boyd said. “She has a lot of pace to her, and she’s a Canadian national team player. Most of their game is about her.”

The OSU and ASU game is expected to be a battle, Boyd added

The Ducks (6-7-2, 1-4-1 Pac-12) have struggled all year and sit in the Pac-12 cellar, but Boyd isn’t taking them lightly.

Led by freshman forward Kristen Parr and senior midfielder Scout Libke, the Ducks pose a different threat than the Beavers, Boyd said.

“Oregon is a little bit more of an unknown because they’ve changed things up recently,” Boyd said. “They are very fast and have terrific team speed but are young in a couple of spots, which I think makes them volatile.”

Ultimately, the Sun Devils know what they have to do to come out of the weekend with two victories and keep their season alive.

“We need a little bit more of an emotional edge,” Boyd said. “Our quality of soccer is good, but we just fluctuate based on our own aggressiveness, so we need our emotions to be at a high level.”

 

Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu


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