April 16, 2009
The Arizona State women's soccer team resumes its spring schedule this weekend when it travels to Las Vegas, Nev., to face UNLV and Utah State.
In their most recent contest the Sun Devils played UC Santa Barbara to a 1-1 tie on April 4 in Temecula, Calif. According to ASU head coach Kevin Boyd, the tie against UCSB featured some of the Sun Devils' best soccer this spring.
"We played well against a good team and it was a very justified tie," said Boyd. "I am hoping we see will see two performances just like that this weekend."
What makes ASU's recent performance against UCSB even more impressive is the fact that it played shorthanded. ASU's current situation is a carryover from last fall when it lost six players - Courtney Giovanni, Leeza Henderson, Lindsey Johns, Jessie Richardson, Molly Simmons-Stuber and Courtney Tinnin - to season ending injuries. The Sun Devils also graduated seniors Carla Scanniello and Kylla Sjoman. In addition, ASU began the spring without starting goalkeeper Briana Silvestri and her backup, Katie Cochran has been sidelined for much of the spring.
"We have played all but a game and a half without a goalkeeper and so we have been putting players in goal, primarily Jill [Shoquist] and Katie [Shepard] and to their credit they have done well," said Boyd. "We just want them to go in there and be courageous and handle whatever they can handle and they have done that."
Of the six players who were lost last season only Johns has returned to action. Johns, who will be a junior in eligibility in 2009, injured her knee during last year's spring campaign. According to Boyd, Johns hasn't shown any ill effect from the injury.
"Lindsey has done very well," said Boyd. "She has been a bright spot this spring." Another player who Boyd said has performed well thus far is rising sophomore Sierra Cook, who scored ASU's lone goal against UCSB.
"Sierra has clearly made strides from last fall," said Boyd. "She is starting to use more of her speed and her size and that's what I liked. It was something she neglected up until now."
Following Sunday's game the Sun Devils will wrap up the spring season with the annual alumni game next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.