QUICK KICKS...
• This past weekend, the Sun Devils capped non-conference play with matches against Hawai'i and Weber State. After falling in overtime in their Friday contest, ASU bounced back with a four-goal win over Weber State on Sunday. In the match, the Sun Devils fired a season-high 31 shots, 14 on goal.
• The Sun Devils enter the weekend tilt against Oregon State holding a 12-7-1 edge against the Beavers in the all-time series between the two schools. At home, ASU is 8-3 all-time against OSU, including a 3-0 win over Oregon State in their last meeting in Tempe. The Sun Devils have not lost to the Beavers at home since the 2011 season that saw the visiting side escape Tempe with a 2-0 win.
• In order to be the best, you have got to play the best, and Arizona State has done just that. The Sun Devils have accepted a huge challenge in the 2017 season. Entering the sixth week of the season, the Sun Devils' 2017 opponents have combined to post an incredible .674 win percentage, a mark that ranks tenth-nationally.
• 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).
• Arizona State has proven this season they are willing to go the extra mile. In four of their eight matches played this season, the Sun Devils have found themselves playing in extra time, including one game going a full 110 minutes. In total, the Sun Devils have played 42-minuets of overtime soccer in 2017, almost a full extra half of game time on the year already.
• Freshman keeper Nikki Panas has emerged as a difference maker in goal for the Sun Devils this season. Panas has combined for two clean sheets in her seven games played for ASU. The Edmonton, Alberta, native has combined for 25 saves, anchoring a defense that checks in at No. 2 in the Pac-12 with 3.5 saves per game.
PAC-12 REMAINS CLASS OF COLLEGIATE SOCCER...
The Pac-12 has again separated itself as one of the nation's most powerful women's soccer conferences in the nation. The Pac-12 enters the weekend with an impressive 65-20-11 record on the season, the lowest number of losses among all power-five conferences. The Conference has maintained at least five teams in the United Soccer Coaches top-25 rankings every week this season. In week five, ranked Pac-12 schools include No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 Stanford, No. 10 USC, No. 13 California and No. 25 Utah.
WHO'S THE NEW GIRL...
Through eight games of the 2017 season 23 different players have logged minutes for the Sun Devils. Of those 23 players, 10 are new to the roster in 2017, including Angela Boyle, Nikki Panas, Jemma Purfield and Olive Jones who are among the team leaders in minutes played this season. Of the 11 goals scored this season, six have come from players who are new to the ASU roster in 2017.
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 was 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).
IRON SHARPENS IRON...
The Sun Devils have accepted a huge challenge in the 2017 season. Entering the sixth week of the season, the Sun Devils' 2017 opponents have combined to post an incredible .674 win percentage, a mark that ranks tenth-nationally. Looking ahead, however, the Sun Devils' remaining schedule has combined to post an impressive .761 win percentage, the third best remaining schedule in the country entering the week.
IN IT TO WIN IT...
While the Sun Devils enter conference play looking to pull themselves above the .500 mark on the season, ASU has shown a ton of fight through the first part of the year. ASU enters the weekend with a decisive, 11-9, goals scored advantage over opponents through their first eight games. The Sun Devils also lead opponents in shots, 125-87 (47-37 in shots on goal) and have earned 39 corner kick attempts. All of this has added up to the Sun Devils being competitive in every game of their grueling non-conference schedule. Entering the weekend, ASU has scored in six of their eight matches, and have not lost a contest by more than one goal all season long.
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.