CHICAGO – Junior forward Cali Farquharson scored two goals and freshman forward Jazmarie Mader added her first career goal as the Sun Devil soccer team defeated Loyola Chicago 3-1 on Sunday.
After the Sun Devils (2-1-1) struggled with sluggish starts in each of their first three games, head coach Kevin Boyd put extra emphasis on the importance of ASU being the team that was able to gain the early advantage.
The Sun Devils would take this to heart and it showed early as their level of activity was the best it had been to start a game this season. The energy they showed on the field would pay dividends in the 21st minute when Farquharson gathered in a pass from Lucy Lara, then calmly finished with her left foot to give ASU the early 1-0 advantage.
“I thought our start was excellent,” said Boyd. “I thought we played well as a whole in the first half. I know there are a couple areas where we need to continue to develop and learn, but what we were asking them to do in terms of starting the game I thought they did well. We pressed them, we wanted the first goal and we got it.”
Farquharson, ASU’s leading scorer each of the last two seasons, missed most of ASU’s first two games due to a foot injury (she started and played the first 16 minutes of ASU’s season opener vs. Texas). She returned for ASU’s 3-1 loss at Illinois on Friday and tied for the team lead with two shots on goal. Boyd said Farquharson’s first goal was a welcome sight given that she is still trying to get back to 100 percent.
“I wanted her to get a goal just to get that feel,” explained Boyd. “Goal scorers need to score goals to remember that they are goal scorers and so for her to get that first one was great.
“She is still a little off in some areas. You could see it in her touch and her movement and her ability to go at people. The important thing is that she was trying to do those things because it will eventually all come back.”
Despite not being able to extend their lead, the Sun Devils would remain in control over the next 50-plus minutes. In fact, ASU did not allow a shot on goal the first 85 minutes of the game.
It appeared the Sun Devils put the game out of reach when Mader headed in a cross from teammate Mackenzie Sermerad in the 73rd minutes to give ASU a 2-0 lead. Mader became the second Sun Devil freshman to score this season after Aly Moon combined for four goals in ASU’s previous two games. In addition, it was the second straight game in which Semerad recorded an assist.
“Jaz has got a lot to her and it has not all come out yet,” said Boyd. “She needs to play faster and she needs to loosen up a little bit. She is a little tense and it slows her down. That is somewhat normal for a freshman coming in because the play is at a higher speed and the tactical demands are higher and so she is having to think a lot. Once it starts coming natural to her is when we’ll see her entire game come out.”
The Sun Devils were on their way to recording their first shutout of the year when the Ramblers maneuvered their way into scoring position and recorded not only their first shot on goal, but also their first goal of game (scored by Allison Shimer) to cut ASU’s lead in half, 2-1, with 4:36 remaining.
It would take the Sun Devils all of 74 seconds to bring an end to any hope the Ramblers had of coming back. Rather than lay back and try to preserve its 2-1 lead, ASU would go straight at the Ramblers. The result was Farquharson’s second goal of the game to once again give the Sun Devils a two-goal lead, 3-1.
The goal was set up by junior midfielder Tommi Goodman, who found Farquharson in stride outside the six. Farquharson pulled up to set up her shot and put it away for the sixth multiple-goal game of her career.
The assist on Farquharson’s goal was part of what Boyd called, ‘the best game Tommi has played for us this season.’ Goodman’s performance was even more impressive given that she had been ill for much of the previous 24 hours.
“I thought that Tommi was attacking a lot more,” said Boyd. “I asked her to try and create a rhythm and she immediately tried to do that with her teammates. We need to just keep that going with her because she’s got more to her in the attack than she has been bringing out. I thought she did a nice job.”
Boyd also noted he was pleased with how his team answered after giving up its first goal of the game.
“I like the way we responded to the goal, but I just wish we had played like that the whole half instead of needing a little awakening,” said Boyd.
After playing their first four games of the season on the road, the Sun Devils will return for their home opener this Friday when they host Oklahoma State at 4 p.m. as part of the annual Sun Devil Classic. ASU will close out the weekend when it faces Texas A&M on Sunday at 1 p.m.