#40 Arizona State Women's Soccer 2013 Preview


Arizona State Sun Devils

Overall Rank: # 40
Conference Rank: #6 Pac-12
#40 Arizona State Women's Soccer 2013 Preview
Arizona State Team Page

 

Arizona State is coming off of its third NCAA Tournament in four years, losing to Baylor at home in the first round of the tournament. Their six conference victories were the most conference wins the program has had since 2003. With a good amount of experience coming back, ASU could improve that stat.

2012 Record: 10-9-2, 6-4-1
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Kevin Boyd

Strengths:
ASU scored 33 goals last season. The team returns players who scored 28 of those goals, including Cali Farquharson, who scored a team-high 10 goals in her freshman campaign. Senior Devin Marshall scored nine times, meaning that two players accounted for 19 of the 33 goals the Sun Devils scored. Marshall was a Pac-12 Second Team All-Conference member, while Farquharson was named to the All-Freshman team. A positive for the Sun Devils is that 13 returning players saw action in at least 11 games, with seven freshmen starting at least 16 games. One of those freshmen was goalie Chandler Morris, who played in all but 58 minutes of the 21 matches.

Weaknesses:
While the Sun Devils scored 33 goals last season, they also gave up 33. That could explain the barely .500 record, but if they are looking to become better, the defense is going to have to shore up. Another weakness the team brings into the season is scoring punch. Two players scored 19 of the 33 goals, with the next highest scorer tallying just three goals on the season. The team is going to need freshmen like Larisa Staub, Madison Leek and McKenzie Grossman, as well as East Carolina transfer Mackenzie Semerad to step up.

Final Projection:
Depth and experience will be keys for this year's Sun Devils squad. The team has the talent to be better than last year's squad and with all the freshmen that got key playing time last season, it wouldn't be a shock to see some of them step up. To have a successful season, someone will have to step up in the scoring department and more than two players will need to score. Kevin Boyd has had the Sun Devils on a successful run lately and it can continue if ASU cleans up a couple things.

Projected Postseason: NCAA

Returning Leaders:
Goals: Cali Farquharson, Sophomore, F, 10
Assists: Cali Farquharson, Sophomore, 4
Shots: Cali Farquharson, Sophomore, 69
Saves: Chandler Morris, Sophomore, 72

Madness 2013 Women’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#100 Katie Mohr

 

See All Women's Soccer Top 44 Team Previews