TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State soccer bested the 2016 Big West Regular Season Champion, Cal State Northridge in a 110 minute exhibition contest at Matador Soccer Field Saturday afternoon.
"It was a good exercise playing an extended game," head coach Graham Winkworth said. "We were able to get everyone some playing time which is always good in the preseason. A lot of the players who have been playing well in training really stepped up and have made put themselves in the frame which is a pleasing thing heading into the regular season. I was proud for Amanda Jones who as a freshman came off the bench and was very impactful."
The Sun Devils put pressure on early, as Jessica Raybe fired a shot in during the 18th- minute of play, but it would be turned away by the CSUN defense, sending the game into the 20th- minute tied at zero. Madison Stark kept the Sun Devil offense on track with a shot on goal just two minutes later, but again, the Matador defense would turn the would-be go-ahead goal away.
"I was very happy with how we controled the game in the first half," Winkworth added. "I felt like we really controlled the tempo and maintained possession really well. I would have liked to have seen us be a little quicker with the movement of the ball, but we didn't allow our opponent any shots at all which was very pleasing."
The goal would come in the 32nd- minute when junior Jemma Purfield sent a corner kick into the box that was headed in by Angela Boyle, putting ASU ahead 1-0 following the first half of play.
"With us playing three in the back, and two wing backs, I was very impressed with how high we were able to get certain players. We created a lot of corner-opportunities from our outside play," said Winkworth. "That was a system that really worked for us and is probably one that we will want to take with us into next week. It was very nice to get on the board there. Jemma put in a lovely ball and Angela was able to finish it off which was very positive and I hope something we can see a lot of later in the year."
The Matadors would get their first look at goal in the first few minutes of the second half, but Ashley March was there to turn it away and protect the Sun Devil lead.
While neither team was able to break through in the second period, the Sun Devils ended regulation play in control, outshooting the Matadors 9-3 while also earning seven corner kicks to CSUN's one.
With second half action in the books, the two teams played on with a pair of overtime periods. The Matadors found their stride in the first overtime, recording a pair of shots (both in the 100th- minute of play), but Sydney Day and the ASU defense would turn both attempts away.
In total, all 26 Sun Devil players logged minutes in the exhibition match, with freshman forward Olive Jones leading the way with 94 minutes played. Offensively, nine Sun Devils recorded shorts, including Devyn Kelsey, Madison Stark, Raybe and Boyle who all put at least one shot on frame.
"It is so important for us to play a good team like CSUN in the preseason because we play in the Pac-12 which is arguably the best conference in the country," Winkworth said. "We needed to play a quality opponent and we certainly saw one today. It is important, especially for these younger players to get a game under their belt, so it is not new to them when we come into a big match in the future."
Arizona State will open the 2017 regular season this coming Friday with a home match against Ohio State. First kick in Friday's match is slated for 4:30 p.m. MST, and will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network. Fans planning to attend Friday's season opener are reminded that all Arizona State ticketed events this season are subject to the clear bag policy. If you can't make it to Sun Devil Soccer Stadium, fans can follow all of the action from the 2017 soccer season by following @SunDevilSoccer on Twitter.
"It was a good exercise playing an extended game," head coach Graham Winkworth said. "We were able to get everyone some playing time which is always good in the preseason. A lot of the players who have been playing well in training really stepped up and have made put themselves in the frame which is a pleasing thing heading into the regular season. I was proud for Amanda Jones who as a freshman came off the bench and was very impactful."
The Sun Devils put pressure on early, as Jessica Raybe fired a shot in during the 18th- minute of play, but it would be turned away by the CSUN defense, sending the game into the 20th- minute tied at zero. Madison Stark kept the Sun Devil offense on track with a shot on goal just two minutes later, but again, the Matador defense would turn the would-be go-ahead goal away.
"I was very happy with how we controled the game in the first half," Winkworth added. "I felt like we really controlled the tempo and maintained possession really well. I would have liked to have seen us be a little quicker with the movement of the ball, but we didn't allow our opponent any shots at all which was very pleasing."
The goal would come in the 32nd- minute when junior Jemma Purfield sent a corner kick into the box that was headed in by Angela Boyle, putting ASU ahead 1-0 following the first half of play.
"With us playing three in the back, and two wing backs, I was very impressed with how high we were able to get certain players. We created a lot of corner-opportunities from our outside play," said Winkworth. "That was a system that really worked for us and is probably one that we will want to take with us into next week. It was very nice to get on the board there. Jemma put in a lovely ball and Angela was able to finish it off which was very positive and I hope something we can see a lot of later in the year."
The Matadors would get their first look at goal in the first few minutes of the second half, but Ashley March was there to turn it away and protect the Sun Devil lead.
While neither team was able to break through in the second period, the Sun Devils ended regulation play in control, outshooting the Matadors 9-3 while also earning seven corner kicks to CSUN's one.
With second half action in the books, the two teams played on with a pair of overtime periods. The Matadors found their stride in the first overtime, recording a pair of shots (both in the 100th- minute of play), but Sydney Day and the ASU defense would turn both attempts away.
In total, all 26 Sun Devil players logged minutes in the exhibition match, with freshman forward Olive Jones leading the way with 94 minutes played. Offensively, nine Sun Devils recorded shorts, including Devyn Kelsey, Madison Stark, Raybe and Boyle who all put at least one shot on frame.
"It is so important for us to play a good team like CSUN in the preseason because we play in the Pac-12 which is arguably the best conference in the country," Winkworth said. "We needed to play a quality opponent and we certainly saw one today. It is important, especially for these younger players to get a game under their belt, so it is not new to them when we come into a big match in the future."
Arizona State will open the 2017 regular season this coming Friday with a home match against Ohio State. First kick in Friday's match is slated for 4:30 p.m. MST, and will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network. Fans planning to attend Friday's season opener are reminded that all Arizona State ticketed events this season are subject to the clear bag policy. If you can't make it to Sun Devil Soccer Stadium, fans can follow all of the action from the 2017 soccer season by following @SunDevilSoccer on Twitter.