TEMPE, Ariz. – Less than 48 hours after winning their season opener, the Sun Devil soccer team had a quick turnaround as they returned to Sun Devil Soccer Stadium early on Sunday to face Beijing Normal University in an exhibition game. The game, which ended in a scoreless tie, proved to be a great learning experience for the entire Sun Devil roster as several players outside the starting lineup got a significant amount of playing time against an international opponent.
Fourteen ASU players recorded 30 or more minutes and 27 players saw action for the Sun Devils, who faced their fifth international opponent this calendar year (also played four games vs. international opponents during team’s tour of Spain in May).
“Considering we played 27 players in the whole game, which is an awful lot, that disrupts you a bit,” ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said. “We didn't play the whole starting line, but we played a good portion to start off the game. I thought we were good, and if we had stayed with that team I’m sure we would have won by a number of goals.
“We really got go to other players we are trying to prepare to be able to rotate into starting spots. That was a wonderful training environment for us”.
Despite rotating so many players in and out, the Sun Devils put together several dangerous scoring chances on Sunday. Jessica Raybe (got behind the defense, but was not able to put away shot in the first half), Jaimie Salas (intercepted errant pass from Beijing’s keeper, but missed shot wide in the second half), and Kayla Sattefield (got free inside the box, but had her shot go off the crossbar in the second half) had ASU’s best chances of the game, but were unable find the back of the net.
“I think we should have scored at least one or two but I actually thought they should have gotten one at the end there as well. So maybe a 3-1 result there is a more justifiable result,” Boyd said.
Ashley March played the entire game in goal for ASU. The redshirt sophomore from Gilbert, Ariz., faced 13 shots and came up with saves on all four shots that were on frame.
“All we wanted from her was consistency,” Boyd said of March. “She handled the balls we needed her to and made the saves and catches that she could. She played well today.”
The Sun Devils return to action on Friday when they host UNLV. Game time at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.