Live stats for all four weekend games will be provided via stat broadcast here, while ASU's match against Boston University will be streamed on the ASU live stream. Both matches on Sunday will be broadcast on the Pac-12 family of networks.
"Our nonconference schedule is tough," head coach Graham Winkworth said. "When you look at the fact that we play Bostson University, San Diego State and Florida Gulf Coast, if you look just at those three teams and combine the number of conference championships those teams have won over the last ten years, you are going to have more than 20. That's a lot of conference championships. These are very very good teams. They will be very high RPI teams and they are very challenging. Boston is the preseason favorite for their Patriot League, San Diego State is the favorite for the Mountain West, Florida Gulf Coast is the favorite in their league. We are playing a lot of quality opponents. Looking at Central Florida, they are a really quality team who is coming off a huge win against North Carolina last weekend. We are certainly in for a tough weekend."
QUICK KICKS...
• Arizona State will return home this weekend to host the 2017 Sun Devil Desert Classic Friday and Sunday. The event will kickoff Friday evening with Arizona slated to face Central Florida at 4 p.m., before a 7 p.m. match up featuring ASU and Boston University. The action will continue Sunday, with a pair of matches including Arizona and Boston at 11 a.m. before ASU and Central Florida square off at 2 p.m.
• Arizona State enters the weekend tilt fresh off their first road victory of the 2017 season. Friday's win also marked the first ASU victory for Graham Winkworth as the head coach of Sun Devil soccer, improving his overall head coaching record to 178-100-15.
• A quick look ahead at the remaining schedule for the Sun Devils puts into perspective the daunting challenges that lay ahead. The Sun Devils still have matches looming against nine teams that are either ranked or receiving votes (five ranked in the top-20) in the United Soccer Coaches poll. This equates to just over half of the matches remaining on the schedule are against teams that appear in the national polls.
• The Sun Devils have proved through the first two weeks of the 2017 season that they can move the ball around. So far, ASU has not netted an unassisted goal, while chalking up 2.5 assists per game, a mark that ranks 24th- nationally. Pac-12 Conference foe Utah leads the nation with 2.5 assists per game heading into the weekend.
• Academic success has become a staple in the Sun Devil soccer culture. Since 2007 the Sun Devil soccer program leads the conference in the number of first-team awards (26) and the number of first- and second-team awards (42).
• The Sun Devils enter the weekend slate boasting the Pac-12's second highest saves per game mark, with an even three. Currently Oregon State holds the highest saves per game mark in the Pac-12 with four, while Jackson State leads the country in the category with 14 saves per contest.
PAC-12 REMAINS CLASS OF COLLEGIATE SOCCER...
Following the first two weeks of the 2017 NCAA soccer season, the Pac-12 has started to separate itself as arguably the premier soccer conferences in the country. The Pac-12 enters the week with the highest win percentage (79.55) among power-five conferences with a 16-3-3 record. The SEC follows closely behind in second with a 25-7-1 record (77.27) checking in just ahead of the ACC and Big 12 who each hold a 70.45 win percentage entering the week.
FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS...
Through the first two weeks of play, the Sun Devils have netted a combined three goals, not including exhibition matches, with all three goals being scored by different goal scorers. Freshman Olive Jones got the offense started this season with the first goal of the season in the first half of the Sun Devils home-opener against Ohio State. This past week, Natalie Stephens got ASU on the board early, before senior Jessica Raybe pushed the Sun Devils ahead with a golden goal in the 100th minute against San Diego State. The game winner marked Raybe's second career game winner.
PURFIELD TABBED TO MAC HERMANN WATCH LIST...
Junior Jemma Purfield has been tabbed as one of 30 NCAA Division I players named to the 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch Lists, announced by the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA) and the Missouri Athletic Club during the preseason. The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year. This year's winners will be announced Friday, Jan. 5, 2018 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis. Purfield, a Beverly, England, native, played the last two seasons under head coach Graham Winkworth at South Alabama where she led the Jaguars in goals (11) during the 2016 season en route to being named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, as well as overall Player of the Year honors.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE A WAY OF LIFE FOR SUN DEVIL SOCCER...
Thirteen Arizona State University women's soccer student-athletes were recognized by the Pac-12 for their work in the classroom as the conference announced its annual All-Academic teams following the 2016 season. Headlining ASU's 13 honorees was senior defender Madison Stark (4.00 GPA – Journalism and Mass Communication), who earned first-team recognition for the second consecutive season. Junior forward Jessica Raybe (3.86 – Exercise and Wellness) and sophomore forward Natalie Stephens (3.89 GPA – Supply Chain Management) earned second-team recognition. It's the second straight season that Raybe has earned second-team honors. Since 2007 the Sun Devil soccer program leads the conference in the number of first-team awards (26) and the number of first- and second-team awards (42).
MADER EYING CAREER GOALS RECORD...
Senior Jazmarie Mader is quickly closing in on Sun Devil soccer history, knocking on the door of joining the top-10 all-time goal scorers in ASU program history. Mader currently sits just eight goals away from tying Karine Inoue (1997-00) for tenth all-time with 20 goals. ASU legend, Stacey Tullock (1998-01), leads all goal scorers with 50. Cali Farquharson (2012-15) was the latest Sun Devil to join the top-10 after closing out her playing career with 44 goals scored.
CLEAR BAG POLICY AT SUN DEVIL ATHLETIC EVENTS...
In order to enhance public safety, Sun Devil Athletics will now enforce their Clear Bag Policy at all ticketed events hosted at SDA facilities. Fans may bring in one (1) clear bag no larger than 12" x 6" x 12" or a 1-gallon plastic storage bag. Fans are limited to one clear bag per person, along with a small clutch or purse for privacy. Please refer to the pictures above for non-approved bags.
Sun Devil Athletics adopted the Clear Bag policy to improve public safety at our venues and provide a great game day experience by making access at all facilities more efficient. This proactive measure will enhance security inside and outside of the athletics venues and speed up the security screening process for all fans.