Sept. 16, 2012
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Arizona State women's soccer won its third consecutive contest, defeating FIU 3-0 during the second day of play at the Cats Classic on Sunday.
Senior forward Miah Mollay, junior forward Devin Marshall and junior midfielder Holland Crook each scored goals for the Sun Devils (4-4-1), who had a 16-6 advantage in shots on FIU (3-4-1). Defensively speaking, ASU continued its brilliant play by not allowing a goal for the third consecutive match, the longest such streak since the 2008 season. Overall, ASU has given up only one goal in its lost four contests.
"We played excellent in the second half," ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said. "We didn't give [FIU] a chance to come at us at all. We put two great goals away and played really well.
"I'm very happy with the play of the backline. They are not giving away chances and they are making teams have to work for it. They are covering each other well and their one-on-one defending is much better. They now have three shutouts in a row and could have four if the penalty kick against Houston [on Sept. 7] didn't happen."
Mollay got things started with her first goal of the season in the 41st minute. She was set up by teammate Courtney Tinnin, who connected with Mollay on a pass as three FIU defenders were giving chase. Mollay took the pass and flicked it over FIU goalkeeper Kaitlyn Savage, who came charging out in an attempt to block the shot.
"Miah got a good goal," Boyd said. "She had a little flick over the goalkeeper and I hope that gives her some confidence and reminds her that she's a goal scorer."
In the 58th minute, Tinnin and Crook would combine to set up Marshall, who headed the ball over the reach of Savage and into the net for her team-leading sixth goal of the season and a 2-0 lead.
ASU would put the finishing touches on its win in the 67th minute when Crook finished off a perfect set-up from Marshall to extend ASU's lead to 3-0.
The duo of Marshall (two goals, one assist) and Crook (two goals, two assists) combined for four goals and three assists in ASU's two wins at the Cats Classic. Marshall's goal on Sunday represented the fifth straight game she has scored at least one goal in a game she has played in (missed ASU's contests at Kansas on Sept. 2 and vs. Houston on Sept. 7). Crook's goal against FIU was the second straight contest she has scored in after netting the first goal of her career in Friday's win against Loyola Marymount. Crook's performance was one of many that stood out from the Sun Devil midfield over the weekend.
"For the weekend I'm really happy with the midfield," Boyd said. "We were focusing on some things with the midfield this past week and I thought they did a nice job."
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Chandler Morris made a pair of saves to earn her fourth shutout of the season.
ASU's current three-game winning streak is its longest since 2010 when it accomplished the feat twice during the non-conference portion of its schedule.
"I think our team is doing a good job on focusing on what we are asking them to do and what we want to be like as a team," Boyd said. "I think they have latched on to that and we are starting to show consistency in that area. There are still a couple things we want to make better, but as a whole I'm happy with where we are at right now."
The Sun Devils return to action next Sunday (2 p.m.) when they travel to Palo Alto, Calif., for their 2012 Pac-12 opener against current No. 3 and defending national champion Stanford. The game will be broadcast live by Pac-12 Networks.