TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State women's soccer team remained unbeaten behind exceptional play on both ends of the field. Lucy Lara, Adriana Orozco, Jessica Raybe and Jazmarie Mader all found the back of the net while the Sun Devil defense allowed only two shots in Friday night's 4-0 win over Loyola Chicago.
The Sun Devils (2-0-1) peppered the Ramblers (0-2-1) with 29 shots while allowing only two in the game. For the third time in as many games the Sun Devils were able to take an early lead after first-half goals from Lara (nailed free kick straight on from 35 yards in the eighth minute) and Orozco (cross from Olivia Hernandez in front of Loyola's net in the 30th minute).
Fast starts were also key in ASU's first two results of the season: Two goals in the first half of 2-1 win at Boston in last Friday's season opener and a goal in the first half of 1-1 tie at No. 25 Boston College on Sunday.
"We've been fast starters," ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said. "If you look at our first three games we've scored first in each one. It took a little longer in the other games but we still got on the board pretty quickly."
In addition to ASU's outstanding performance on offense, the Sun Devils were equally effective on the defensive end where they allowed only one shot in each half. Starters Devyn Kelsey, Mckenzie Grossman, Madison Stark and Taylor Coon and reserves Hailey Zerbel, Madison Wolf and Kayla Satterfield helped goalkeeper Megan Delaney earn her first career shutout in her third career game (and start) as a Sun Devil. Following the game, Boyd had high praise for the back line's performance not only for what it did in Friday night's win, but for its collective play in the first three games.
"When you are all over a team like that, you have a tendency to expose yourself in the back and we didn't do that," Boyd said. "We kept really good discipline in terms of preventing (Loyola offensive opportunities) when they won the ball. I think our backline has done really well in all three games."
After scoring ASU's first goal, Lara would help set up ASU's third goal on a corner kick in the 70th minute. Lara sent the ball out to Kylie Miniefield, who then chipped a cross toward goal where Jessica Raybe went up in the air and connected for her first goal of the season.
Jazmarie Mader, who scored ASU's goal in its prior game at Boston College, tied Orozco for the team lead in goals (2) in the 81st minute after she laced a shot that deflected off a Rambler defender and into the net.
As pleased as he was with his team's play in the first half, Boyd was even more excited about how the Sun Devils kept up their intensity in the second half.
"We stayed on top of them the entire time. Our second half was really good," Boyd said. "Today, we just didn't let up. Our second half was in many ways better than our first. The intensity is a trademark that we're starting to develop and it's one of the areas that we take tremendous pride in."
The Sun Devils have a quick turnaround as they will face Beijing Normal University on Saturday morning with game time scheduled for 11 a.m. at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium (also live on Pac-12 Arizona). All fans who attend Saturday's game will be admitted free of charge.
The Sun Devils (2-0-1) peppered the Ramblers (0-2-1) with 29 shots while allowing only two in the game. For the third time in as many games the Sun Devils were able to take an early lead after first-half goals from Lara (nailed free kick straight on from 35 yards in the eighth minute) and Orozco (cross from Olivia Hernandez in front of Loyola's net in the 30th minute).
Fast starts were also key in ASU's first two results of the season: Two goals in the first half of 2-1 win at Boston in last Friday's season opener and a goal in the first half of 1-1 tie at No. 25 Boston College on Sunday.
"We've been fast starters," ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said. "If you look at our first three games we've scored first in each one. It took a little longer in the other games but we still got on the board pretty quickly."
In addition to ASU's outstanding performance on offense, the Sun Devils were equally effective on the defensive end where they allowed only one shot in each half. Starters Devyn Kelsey, Mckenzie Grossman, Madison Stark and Taylor Coon and reserves Hailey Zerbel, Madison Wolf and Kayla Satterfield helped goalkeeper Megan Delaney earn her first career shutout in her third career game (and start) as a Sun Devil. Following the game, Boyd had high praise for the back line's performance not only for what it did in Friday night's win, but for its collective play in the first three games.
"When you are all over a team like that, you have a tendency to expose yourself in the back and we didn't do that," Boyd said. "We kept really good discipline in terms of preventing (Loyola offensive opportunities) when they won the ball. I think our backline has done really well in all three games."
After scoring ASU's first goal, Lara would help set up ASU's third goal on a corner kick in the 70th minute. Lara sent the ball out to Kylie Miniefield, who then chipped a cross toward goal where Jessica Raybe went up in the air and connected for her first goal of the season.
Jazmarie Mader, who scored ASU's goal in its prior game at Boston College, tied Orozco for the team lead in goals (2) in the 81st minute after she laced a shot that deflected off a Rambler defender and into the net.
As pleased as he was with his team's play in the first half, Boyd was even more excited about how the Sun Devils kept up their intensity in the second half.
"We stayed on top of them the entire time. Our second half was really good," Boyd said. "Today, we just didn't let up. Our second half was in many ways better than our first. The intensity is a trademark that we're starting to develop and it's one of the areas that we take tremendous pride in."
The Sun Devils have a quick turnaround as they will face Beijing Normal University on Saturday morning with game time scheduled for 11 a.m. at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium (also live on Pac-12 Arizona). All fans who attend Saturday's game will be admitted free of charge.