The Sun Devil soccer team will finally begin conference play this Friday against its toughest opponent to date: No. 3 UCLA.
The Bruins (8-0-1) are the defending national champions and carry with them a 30-game win streak that extends back to last season.
Even with this daunting task ahead of them, on paper, the Sun Devils (7-1-1) look like they're up for it.
Coach Kevin Boyd's team is in the midst of a program record six-game win streak, outscoring their opponents 27-9. ASU also has had three players awarded Pac–12 Player of the Week honors.
Experience plays a huge role in the Bruins' offense, with two seniors atop the scoring list. Senior midfielder Sam Mewis tops UCLA’s scoring list, with seven goals scored this season. Senior forward Rosie White's four goals take second place, while sophomore forward Darian Jenkins and junior forward Taylor Smith have three goals apiece.
The dynamic duo of ASU's junior forward Cali Farquharson and freshman forward/midfielder Aly Moon will be a key in setting the pace early on against a seasoned UCLA defense.
Farquharson has managed to score eight goals, and Moon only trails her teammate by one goal with seven on the season.
Moon did not play last game against Cal State Northridge due to an injury, but should return to the starting lineup for the game against UCLA.
Both girls have managed to score hat tricks at various points in the season, with Moon scoring hers against Hawaii (ASU won 5-2), and Farquharson scoring hers against Nevada (ASU won 5-0).
Farquharson is not phased in the least about facing the No. 3 team in the nation.
“We are just gonna go in, one game at a time,” Farquharson said. “They are just another opponent. We don't want to look at the jersey or the rankings, we just want to focus on how we are going to play against them.”
ASU is also seeing junior defender McKenzie Berryhill return to the starting lineup, after coming off the bench the last three games.
Berryhill will play a pivotal role for the Sun Devils against UCLA, as she brings experience and leadership to the back line, solidifying a defense that was shaky in her absence. She is especially potent in one-on-one situations.
Farquharson is looking forward to facing the challenge of conference play, and cannot wait to kick off against UCLA.
“I have high hopes for us,” Farquharson said. “We’ve been playing really well, and we are really deep. By this time last year a lot of us were pretty tired already, so it should be really exciting conference play, and I think we are going to do very well.”
The Sun Devils host UCLA at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
Reach the reporter at mtsteine@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @MarcTSteiner
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