Nov. 4, 1997
Arizona State Soccer Hosts Bay Area Schools
Sun Devils Close Out Regular Season Play
|
| Sophomore Jill Rivard |
ON TAP: The Arizona State soccer team (11-6-0, 5-2-0 Pac-10) will end its regular season, as well as to try and improve their post-season hopes, when they host Stanford (10-7-0, 5-2-0 Pac-10) on Friday, at 4:30 p.m. and California (9-7-1, 4-3-0 Pac-10) on Sunday, at 12:00 p.m. ASU is tied for second in the Pac-10 with Stanford, USC and Washington.
A WEEK AGO: Arizona State came away with a split, but registered its biggest win of the season, defeating then 19th-ranked USC 3-2 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. In only it's second year as a program, ASU handed USC it's first loss ever at the storied Coliseum. Freshman midfielder Erin McGinnis notched ASU's first goal, unassisted in the 16th minute. USC would score in the 30th minute, but the young and aggressive Sun Devils answered four minutes later, as a defensive giveaway allowed sophomore forward Sarah Blaska to score on Antoinette Marjanovic's assist. ASU would extend its lead to 3-1 in the 60th minute, as a long pass upfield from sophomore defender Marianne Simmons went to Blaska, who found a wide-open Jaclyn Clark on the left side for the tally. USC would scramble in the final minutes, but ASU goalkeeper Erin Reinke (who made nine saves), made several stops, none more important than the one in the 88th minute. A USC player hit a one-timer from a few yards out, but Reinke drove to her right and pushed the ball just wide of the net. Against the 22nd-ranked UCLA Bruins, the Devils couldn't find the net and only got off eight shots. Both teams held each other scoreless in the first half, but the Bruins tallied all three goals down the stretch. Sophomore defender Jill Rivard had an excellent game, as she shadowed All-American candiate Traci Arkenberg throughout the match, holding her without a goal.
THE COMPETITION: Stanford comes to Tempe on a six match win streak ... senior forward Emily Burt, who is third in the Pac-10 in scoring with 39 points, leads the Cardinal with 15 goals and five assists ... Burt also has seven game-winners, tying her for first in the West region ... goalkeeping duties are spilt between Erin Bryla (10 G, 1.53 GAA) and Carly Smolak (9 G, .875 GAA). California is on a four game win streak ... senior forward Courtney Carroll leads the team with 15 points (5 golas, 5 assists) ... Cal keeper Jill Stephenson has four shutouts and a 0.92 GAA. This is ASU's first meeting between Stanford and California.
COMPARE & CONTRAST ('97/'96): What a difference a year has made for the ASU soccer team: Wins: 11/4; Pac-10 Wins: 5/2; Goals: 42/16; Assists: 39/15; Points: 123/47.
CAN'T GET NO SATISFACTION: Due to the Friday, November 7th Rolling Stones concert at Sun Devil Stadium, ASU's match against Stanford has been moved to 4:30 p.m. MST instead of the original 7 p.m. kickoff. The game will still be played at Sun Devil Soccer Field.
ONE-TWO PUNCH: Part of the ASU success this season can be attributed to freshmen Karine Inoue and Jaclyn Clark. The two players have combined for 75 shots, recorded 16 goals and 10 assists. They are also responsible for over a third of the team's points with 42.
HONORS: Sophomore forward Sarah Blaska's three point game in the Devils' upset win against USC earned her Pac-10 Player of the Week honors. Blaska scored ASU's second goal-of-three and assisted on the game-winner. Blaska is the first-ever ASU player to receive this accolade. She was also recently honored as KMVP's Student-Athlete of the Week. Blaska is majoring in elementary education and holds a 3.28 grade-point average.
THE CROATIAN SENSATION: Freshman midfielder Antoinette Marjanovic is lighting up the score board in all categories: goals (8), assists (7), total points (23) and game-winning goals (3). Marjanovic was the youngest and first American-Croatian to play on the Croatian National women's team. Marjanovic's three game-winning goals ties her for tenth in the West region.
CORNER KICKS: ASU's six goals scored against Utah State is the most ever ... the five goal margin of victory over Creighton is the largest ever ... ASU has outscored their opponents 23-8 in the first half ... ASU has broke eight team records ... 13 different Sun Devils have contributed at least two points ... ASU is tied for eighth in the West region in scoring with a 2.47 goals per match ... ASU is 9-2 when leading at half ... seven Sun Devils have at least one game-winner.
How ASU Ranks in the Pac-10
Scoring
T5. Antionette Marjanovic -- 23 points (8 goals, 7 assists)
Jaclyn Clark -- 23 points (9 goals, 5 assists)
T10. Karine Inoue -- 19 points (7 goals, 5 assists)
T19. Aisha Thomas -- 13 points (6 goals, 1 assist)
Goals Scored
T5. Jaclyn Clark -- 9
T7. Antoinette Marjanovic -- 8
T9. Karine Inoue -- 7
T12. Aisha Thomas -- 6
Assists
T4. Antionette Marjanovic -- 7
T9. Jaclyn Clark -- 5
Karine Inoue -- 5
Kim Wagner -- 5
Sarah Blaska -- 5
Goalies
T7. Erin Reinke -- 17 G, 98 saves, 26 GA, 5 ShO, 1.56 GAA
Team Points
3. ASU (17 G, 42 GL, 39 AST, 2.47 GPG, 2.29 ASP, 123 PTS)
Team Goalkeeping
6. ASU (17 G, 98 SV, 26 GA, 5 ShO, 1.56 GAA)