by Connor Pelton, SDA Communications Student Intern
TEMPE, Ariz. – Looking to bounce back from Friday's heartbreaker of a loss in its season opener, the Arizona State women's soccer team responded in a big way with a fast start on Sunday against the Beijing All-Stars.
Two goals in the first 15 minutes of the exhibition match allowed the Sun Devils to cruise to a 4-0 victory, their final match of a quick two-game homestand to open the season. Forward Jazmarie Mader led the way with a pair of goals ('12, '63), while sophomore Christina Edwards and junior Natalie Stephens also scored for Arizona State.
"I was just in the right place at the right time," said Mader after the win. "We all came out with a good attitude and had something to prove."
The exhibition allowed head coach Graham Winkworth to experiment with a few different combinations of lineups, a luxury not typically afforded during in-season competition.
"It's important for us to try out some different players and formations when we get opportunities like this," Winkworth said. "We got to see a couple different players make a good first impression."
Upperclassmen goalkeepers Ashley March and Sydney Day took advantage of the opportunity, combining to post a clean sheet and three saves after not appearing against Ohio State earlier this weekend. Making her first start of the year, March noted that a tight defensive effort from her teammates contributed to her success.
"We played great as a unit," recounted March. "Our defense was working great together, cutting off through balls and really controlling it back there. They didn't leave me with a lot to do and that's the way we like it."
After taking a 2-0 lead into the locker rooms at halftime, the Sun Devils quickly went to work adding some insurance in the final 45. Edwards was able to break the match open with a 48th minute header off a corner kick, the ball put perfectly into the box by junior Melinda Gutierez.
Some 15 minutes later, it was Mader who notched her second goal of the day by converting a PK attempt to make the score 4-0. The four goals was the most for Arizona State in nearly a year, the last time coming on August 26 in a 4-0 victory against Loyola-Chicago.
On this day, the Sun Devils dominated in both shots taken and shots on goal, topping the visitors from Beijing 25-4 and 15-3, respectively.
They will now look to build on the result as they hit the road for their first away match of the regular season, taking on San Diego State on Friday night.
"It's a night game on their home field so it will be a great challenge," Winkworth said when asked about the trip. "We'll regroup this week and try to put in a good performance. If we put in a good effort, we have a great chance against any of our opponents."
TEMPE, Ariz. – Looking to bounce back from Friday's heartbreaker of a loss in its season opener, the Arizona State women's soccer team responded in a big way with a fast start on Sunday against the Beijing All-Stars.
Two goals in the first 15 minutes of the exhibition match allowed the Sun Devils to cruise to a 4-0 victory, their final match of a quick two-game homestand to open the season. Forward Jazmarie Mader led the way with a pair of goals ('12, '63), while sophomore Christina Edwards and junior Natalie Stephens also scored for Arizona State.
"I was just in the right place at the right time," said Mader after the win. "We all came out with a good attitude and had something to prove."
The exhibition allowed head coach Graham Winkworth to experiment with a few different combinations of lineups, a luxury not typically afforded during in-season competition.
"It's important for us to try out some different players and formations when we get opportunities like this," Winkworth said. "We got to see a couple different players make a good first impression."
Upperclassmen goalkeepers Ashley March and Sydney Day took advantage of the opportunity, combining to post a clean sheet and three saves after not appearing against Ohio State earlier this weekend. Making her first start of the year, March noted that a tight defensive effort from her teammates contributed to her success.
"We played great as a unit," recounted March. "Our defense was working great together, cutting off through balls and really controlling it back there. They didn't leave me with a lot to do and that's the way we like it."
After taking a 2-0 lead into the locker rooms at halftime, the Sun Devils quickly went to work adding some insurance in the final 45. Edwards was able to break the match open with a 48th minute header off a corner kick, the ball put perfectly into the box by junior Melinda Gutierez.
13' @NinjaNat97 with #AnotherOne ??
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) August 20, 2017
Sun Devils take a 2-0 lead! https://t.co/rWNGyfs0dh
Some 15 minutes later, it was Mader who notched her second goal of the day by converting a PK attempt to make the score 4-0. The four goals was the most for Arizona State in nearly a year, the last time coming on August 26 in a 4-0 victory against Loyola-Chicago.
On this day, the Sun Devils dominated in both shots taken and shots on goal, topping the visitors from Beijing 25-4 and 15-3, respectively.
They will now look to build on the result as they hit the road for their first away match of the regular season, taking on San Diego State on Friday night.
"It's a night game on their home field so it will be a great challenge," Winkworth said when asked about the trip. "We'll regroup this week and try to put in a good performance. If we put in a good effort, we have a great chance against any of our opponents."