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Marleen Schimmer continues to display full offensive arsenal for ASU soccer

18-year-old Schimmer has been an offensive superstar for ASU this season

Marleen Schimmer.jpg

ASU sophomore forward, Marleen Schimmer (27), slides for the ball in the Sun Devils' 1-1 draw against CSUN Matadors at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium in Tempe, Arizona on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019.


Much like NBA superstar Stephen Curry, ASU sophomore forward Marleen Schimmer takes and makes shots that most players wouldn’t even think of attempting. Schimmer has been given the freedom by coaches to shoot from several feet beyond the penalty box.

Originally from Mainz, Germany, Schimmer has quickly established herself as one of ASU’s premier offensive catalysts. Schimmer is second on the team in both goals (six) and assists (four). 

She has also scored in three consecutive matches, with the last two being those aforementioned long-range bombs from outside the penalty area.

In the second half of ASU’s loss to USC on Thursday, Oct. 3, with defenders draped all over her, Schimmer buried an impressive shot from outside of the penalty arc. In the very next game against UCLA, Schimmer rocketed a ball from about 30 yards out past the unsuspecting keeper.

Not only does the coaching staff give Schimmer full autonomy to pull from distance, but her teammates have also given her the green light.

“She is a one of a kind player," redshirt senior midfielder Kylie Miniefield said. "Her shots are insane. If you step in front of it, I feel sorry for you. She can make the craziest shots, and score from anywhere on the field.”

Miniefield and her teammates realize that “Schimmy,” as they call her, has a skill set that is rare in collegiate soccer.

“If anyone else were to take shots from where she take shots, we’d be screaming at them,” Miniefield said.

ASU head coach Graham Winkworth echoed the sentiment that the coaching staff gives her free reign to shoot from just about anywhere on the pitch.

“We give her a little more freedom than we give most players,” he said. “They are not high percentage shots, but they are higher percentage shots if she’s taking them.”

ASU has had to lean on Schimmer for scoring even more as of late because the team has battled injuries and the competition has heated up. For example, in the match against USC, with ASU trying to contain USC’s potent attack, Schimmer was used as the only forward during the game. 

Schimmer spoke after the game about having the extra weight on her shoulders.

“I’m the only one up top, it’s not easy, but I just tried to do my best and create chances,” she said.

Even her misses are impressive at times. Schimmer said she enters each game with the same mentality, adding that "you can’t score goals if you don’t shoot on the goal."

Schimmer isn’t just a scorer though. She’s an all-around offensive vessel for ASU.

When she’s not scoring, Schimmer is facilitating for her teammates with an array of passes including crosses and through balls.

She also possesses perhaps the most refined arsenal of dribble moves on the team. At least once a game, Schimmer goes into her bag of tricks, using step-overs and scissor moves to get past or around defenders. 

Despite not turning 19 until later this month, the sophomore is already a seasoned player when it comes to experience on the pitch.

In 2017, she played for her native Germany on the U17 team in the UEFA Nations friendlies. 

Despite Schimmer’s continued brilliance, ASU has hit a skid recently. After starting 5-0, the team has gone 1-4-2 as its schedule has ramped up. 

Through three conference games, ASU currently sits in a tie for last in the Pac-12. If ASU wants to reach it’s first NCAA tournament since 2014, it will need to take some of the playmaking burden load off Schimmer.


Reach the reporter at ltochter@asu.edu and follow @Leo_Toch on Twitter.

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