THE GAME: Sun Devil Soccer (9-7-2, 1-6-2 Pac-12) vs. Utah (6-9-3, 1-6-2 Pac-12)
WHEN: Sunday at 1 p.m. MST
WHERE: Sun Devil Soccer Stadium • Click here for tickets
WATCH: ASU Live Stream
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil soccer team (9-7-2, 1-6-2 Pac-12) plays its final home game of the 2021 season on Sunday (1 p.m.) when it hosts Utah (6-9-3, 1-6-2) in a Halloween matinee. Sunday's contest will be Senior Day. Following the game, the Sun Devil Soccer will honor student-athletes Lara Barbieri, Isabel Dehakiz, Jessica Hale, Jayda Hylton-Pelaia, Vildan Kardesler, Julia Koharko, Olivia Kearse-Thomas, Hikaru Minami, Nicole Soto, Cori Sullivan and Anna White following Sunday's game.
STATE OF PLAY
Coming off a tough road trip to the Bay Area, the Sun Devil soccer team bounced back in a big way with a 3-2 win over Colorado on Thursday. Senior Nicole Douglas scored a pair of goals – the ninth multi-goal outing of her Sun Devil career – and Olivia Nguyen added her sixth goal of the season while freshman goalkeeper Julia Ortega made seven saves in win.
Despite all the hard work it has put in and the high quality of soccer it has displayed throughout the season, ASU came into Thursday's game seeking its first conference win. While they were not getting the results they desired each successive week – including near upsets of USC, UCLA and Washington State – the Sun Devils' competitive spirit never waned. Outside of its ties at Washington (2-2 on Sept. 24) and vs. Washington State (2-2 on Oct. 15), all of ASU's Pac-12 contests had been decided by one goal coming into its road trip to the Bay Area. Its 2-0 loss at Stanford (Oct. 21) was the first time in league play in which ASU was involved in a contest decided by more than one goal. That setback was followed by another one-goal game, a 1-0 loss at Cal (Oct. 24) played amid heavy rains and 30 mph winds.
PERSEVERANCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY
Quality depth, resilience and a team-first mentality of playing for each other are among the reasons ASU did not fold when injuries started to pile up. It did just the opposite as it put together its best nine-game record in program history (8-1). Included in ASU's non-conference wins was a 3-2 win over then-No. 21 and previously unbeaten Texas Tech on Sept. 12 in Tucson.
ASU has faced adversity all season – 22 different players have been in the starting lineup – and has still managed to play at a high level that enabled it to jump out to leads of 2-0 (at Washington), 1-0 (vs. USC) and 3-1 (vs. UCLA). ASU's outstanding abilities on the attacking end also played a major role in the Sun Devils' 2-2 tie vs. Washington State on Oct. 15. Down 2-0 after 30 minutes of game time ASU was faced with this task: To get any kind of result it would have to score two goals against the nation's top team & top goalkeeper in goals-against average. It meant scoring one more goal than WSU had given up in its eight previous contests coming into the game. Given the circumstances, one could argue ASU responded to the challenge with one of its best performances of the season as Olivia Kearse-Thomas and Nicole Douglas both scored in a game that ended in a 2-2 draw.
After winning all five of its one-goal games in non-conference play, ASU has not been as fortunate in the same situation in Pac-12 play with five of its six league losses coming by one goal. Its 3-2 triumph over Colorado (Oct. 28) was ASU's first positive result in a one-goal game in league play.
DOUGLAS DELIVERS
Senior forward Nicole Douglas has been nothing short of sensational this season. The national leader in goals (17) and points (39) – is also No. 2 in the nation in goals per game (0.94) and No. 6 in points per game (2.17) – Douglas has either scored or assisted on a goal in all but five games this season. ASU's contest at Oregon snapped a streak of seven consecutive games in which she scored at least one goal.
TOP OFFENSIVE CONTRIBUTORS
Douglas (17 goals/5 assists/39 points), van Deursen (3 goals/8 assists/14 points) & fellow seniors Olivia Nguyen (6 goals/2 assists/14 points) and Olivia Kearse-Thomas (3 goals/2 assist/8 points) have combined for 29 of ASU's 37 goals this season. Sophomore Jazmine Wilkinson (two goals) has also scored multiple goals this season.
IN THE RANKINGS
After its 8-1 record in non-conference play, ASU earned a No. 15 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25, its highest in program history.
SERIES NOTES VS UTAH – UTAH LEADS 6-5-3
After winning five of the first eight meetings, the most recent of which came in 2014, Utah has had more success in recent encounters with a 3-0-3 record in the last six meetings.
SEASON SUMMARY
• This was the second straight season ASU started 5-0. On Sept. 5, ASU was looking for its first 6-0 start since 2000 before being defeated by then-No. 17 LSU, 5-2. Last season ASU started 6-0-2 before its first loss in the season's ninth game.
• Douglas posted the ninth multi-goal game of her career with two in ASU's 3-2 upset of Colorado on Oct. 28. She is currently tied with Cali Farquharson for second place on ASU's all-time list in career goals (44) and is in sole possession of second place in both career points (103) and career game-winning goals (14). ASU Hall of Famer Stacey Tullock (1998-2001) holds all three records with 125 points and 50 goals, including 16 game-winning goals. Douglas (17 goals, 39 points) is currently tied for first place with Tullock for most goals in a season (17) and trails Tullock (41 points) by two points for most points in a season.
• Douglas (17 goals) & Olivia Nguyen (6 goals) have combined for 23 of ASU's 37 goals. Although Douglas and Nguyen have accounted for the majority of the goals, ASU has had 10 different players find the back of the net this season. Kearse-Thomas (3), van Deursen (3), and Wilkinson (2) and have also scored multiple goals this season
• van Deursen missed ASU's games vs. then-No. 21 Texas Tech and at Colorado College due to national team call up. On Sept. 19, van Deursen helped the Dutch U23 National Team claim a 3-0 win over Sweden. With her eighth assist of the season vs. Colorado (Oct. 28), van Deursen moved into a three-way tie for second place in the school's record book for most assists in a season and is now in a three-way tie for fourth place in career assists (18). van Deursen's 0.5 assists per game currently rank 34th nationally.
• ASU started the season with a pair of true freshman goalkeepers – Julia Ortega & Birta Gudlaugs each played a half in ASU's first two games – as the team was forced to go without two-year starter Giulia Cascaperan due to injury. Gudlaugs has played every minute 12 times this season and is the owner of three shutouts: at Mississippi State (Aug. 26), vs. Nebraska in Tucson (Sept. 9) and at Colorado College (Sept. 17). Ortega started ASU's contests at OSU (Oct. 7) and at Cal (Oct. 24). She made a (then) season-high six saves at Cal (Oct. 24) and followed that with a season-high seven saves in ASU's 3-2 win over Colorado (Oct. 28).
• ASU has scored at least one goal in all but three games (at Oregon - Oct. 10, at Stanford - Oct. 21 and at Cal - Oct. 24) and has scored multiple goals 10 times this season. Against then-No. 3 UCLA (Oct. 3), the Sun Devils scored more goals in the first half (three) than the Bruins had given up in all 10 of their games combined (two) coming into the game. The three goals were the most scored against the Bruins since the 2019 NCAA Tournament – a span of 27 games.
• ASU has had 22 different players in the starting lineup this season. Nicole Douglas and Callie Darst are the only players who have started every game this season. van Deursen has started all 16 games she has played in.
• Douglas (Offensive POW/Week One), Lieske Carleer (Defensive POW/Week Two) and Birta Gudlaugs (goalkeeper of the week/Week Two) have combined for three Pac-12 Player of the Week honors this season.
EXPERIENCE COUNTS
• Nicole Douglas – Has started all 69 of her career games.
• Callie Darst – Has started 32 straight games and 54 of 55 career games.
• Lieske Carleer – Has started 49 of the 50 games she has played in/DNP vs. Nebraska (9/9) and Texas Tech (9/12) did not start at Washington (9/24) after starting and playing only five minutes vs. Colorado College (9/17).
• Alexia Delgado – Had started 20 of last 21 games she has played in and has started 55 of 62 career games. Returned from injury in ASU's contest at Washington (Sept. 24) after not playing since Aug. 22. Due to Mexican National Team call up, was not with the team for its games at Stanford (Oct. 21) and at Cal (Oct. 24).
• Eva van Deursen – Started last 29 games she's played in & 64 of 67 career games. DNP vs. Texas Tech (9/12)/at Colorado College (9/17) due to international call-up.
• Jessica Hale – Had started 21 of last 22 games she has played in and 32 of 57 career games. Has missed ASU's last 10 games due to injury.
• Jazmine Wilkinson – Has started 26 of 35 career games.
• Olivia Nguyen – Has started 33 of last 36 games and 34 of 59 career games. All of her career goals (10) and assists (7) have come in the last two seasons.
• Cori Sullivan – Has started 33 of 47 career games.
• Olivia Kearse-Thomas – Has played in 82 games with 44 career starts.
• Isabel Dehakiz – Started the first six games last season before a season-ending injury. Has started 31 of 50 career games. Her 21 minutes on the field vs. UCLA on Oct. 3, represented the first time she played since last season. She was in the starting lineup at Oregon State (Oct. 7), at Stanford (Oct. 21) and at Cal (Oct. 24).
• Jayda Hylton-Pelaia – Has 70 starting assignments in 74 career games. Has started 15 of her 18 games as a Sun Devil after transferring from East Carolina.
• Lucy Johnson – Has started 17 of 24 career games. Has started six of 13 games this season, missing five due to injury. Returned to action at Stanford on Oct. 21.
• Dai Williams – Has started 14 of 37 games with one start in 11 games in 2021.
• Tahlia Herman-Watt – Started nine of 16 games as last spring & has played in 11 games this season (one start at Oregon State (Oct. 7). Was not with team at Stanford (Oct. 21) or at Cal (Oct. 24) due to New Zealand National Team assignment.
• Vildan Kardesler – Originally joined ASU as a transfer from Pitt. Has started 30 of 41 career games, including five of the six contests she played in last spring before her season was cut short due to injury. Made her first appearance of 2021 in ASU's 3-2 win over Colorado (Oct. 28).
• *Giulia Cascapera – Started all 34 career games coming into the season but has not played due preseason injury.
*Has not played this season
RECAPPING LAST SEASON
ASU is coming off its best season under head coach Graham Winkworth, finishing the regular season with an 9-6-2 record and making the postseason for the first time since 2014 and the eighth time in school history. ASU made it to the second round of the tournament to become the fifth ASU soccer team to advance that far.
Winkworth and company boasted an undefeated non-conference slate, including an overtime comeback thriller at Grand Canyon to protect the win-streak. ASU continued its unbeaten streak through eight games and notched wins against UCLA, Stanford, and USC to become only the fourth team in history to beat all three programs in a single season. With a 4-4-2 record in Pac-12 Conference play, the Sun Devils finished in the middle of the table after being picked to finish last in the preseason poll.
The Sun Devils scored 28 goals in 17 games, second-most in the Pac-12 Conference. ASU boasted one of the strongest defensive lines in the Pac-12, conceding only 16 goals and forcing ASU's keepers to make only 57 saves - fifth-fewest amongst Conference competitors.
WHEN: Sunday at 1 p.m. MST
WHERE: Sun Devil Soccer Stadium • Click here for tickets
WATCH: ASU Live Stream
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil soccer team (9-7-2, 1-6-2 Pac-12) plays its final home game of the 2021 season on Sunday (1 p.m.) when it hosts Utah (6-9-3, 1-6-2) in a Halloween matinee. Sunday's contest will be Senior Day. Following the game, the Sun Devil Soccer will honor student-athletes Lara Barbieri, Isabel Dehakiz, Jessica Hale, Jayda Hylton-Pelaia, Vildan Kardesler, Julia Koharko, Olivia Kearse-Thomas, Hikaru Minami, Nicole Soto, Cori Sullivan and Anna White following Sunday's game.
STATE OF PLAY
Coming off a tough road trip to the Bay Area, the Sun Devil soccer team bounced back in a big way with a 3-2 win over Colorado on Thursday. Senior Nicole Douglas scored a pair of goals – the ninth multi-goal outing of her Sun Devil career – and Olivia Nguyen added her sixth goal of the season while freshman goalkeeper Julia Ortega made seven saves in win.
Despite all the hard work it has put in and the high quality of soccer it has displayed throughout the season, ASU came into Thursday's game seeking its first conference win. While they were not getting the results they desired each successive week – including near upsets of USC, UCLA and Washington State – the Sun Devils' competitive spirit never waned. Outside of its ties at Washington (2-2 on Sept. 24) and vs. Washington State (2-2 on Oct. 15), all of ASU's Pac-12 contests had been decided by one goal coming into its road trip to the Bay Area. Its 2-0 loss at Stanford (Oct. 21) was the first time in league play in which ASU was involved in a contest decided by more than one goal. That setback was followed by another one-goal game, a 1-0 loss at Cal (Oct. 24) played amid heavy rains and 30 mph winds.
PERSEVERANCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY
Quality depth, resilience and a team-first mentality of playing for each other are among the reasons ASU did not fold when injuries started to pile up. It did just the opposite as it put together its best nine-game record in program history (8-1). Included in ASU's non-conference wins was a 3-2 win over then-No. 21 and previously unbeaten Texas Tech on Sept. 12 in Tucson.
ASU has faced adversity all season – 22 different players have been in the starting lineup – and has still managed to play at a high level that enabled it to jump out to leads of 2-0 (at Washington), 1-0 (vs. USC) and 3-1 (vs. UCLA). ASU's outstanding abilities on the attacking end also played a major role in the Sun Devils' 2-2 tie vs. Washington State on Oct. 15. Down 2-0 after 30 minutes of game time ASU was faced with this task: To get any kind of result it would have to score two goals against the nation's top team & top goalkeeper in goals-against average. It meant scoring one more goal than WSU had given up in its eight previous contests coming into the game. Given the circumstances, one could argue ASU responded to the challenge with one of its best performances of the season as Olivia Kearse-Thomas and Nicole Douglas both scored in a game that ended in a 2-2 draw.
After winning all five of its one-goal games in non-conference play, ASU has not been as fortunate in the same situation in Pac-12 play with five of its six league losses coming by one goal. Its 3-2 triumph over Colorado (Oct. 28) was ASU's first positive result in a one-goal game in league play.
DOUGLAS DELIVERS
Senior forward Nicole Douglas has been nothing short of sensational this season. The national leader in goals (17) and points (39) – is also No. 2 in the nation in goals per game (0.94) and No. 6 in points per game (2.17) – Douglas has either scored or assisted on a goal in all but five games this season. ASU's contest at Oregon snapped a streak of seven consecutive games in which she scored at least one goal.
TOP OFFENSIVE CONTRIBUTORS
Douglas (17 goals/5 assists/39 points), van Deursen (3 goals/8 assists/14 points) & fellow seniors Olivia Nguyen (6 goals/2 assists/14 points) and Olivia Kearse-Thomas (3 goals/2 assist/8 points) have combined for 29 of ASU's 37 goals this season. Sophomore Jazmine Wilkinson (two goals) has also scored multiple goals this season.
IN THE RANKINGS
After its 8-1 record in non-conference play, ASU earned a No. 15 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25, its highest in program history.
SERIES NOTES VS UTAH – UTAH LEADS 6-5-3
After winning five of the first eight meetings, the most recent of which came in 2014, Utah has had more success in recent encounters with a 3-0-3 record in the last six meetings.
SEASON SUMMARY
• This was the second straight season ASU started 5-0. On Sept. 5, ASU was looking for its first 6-0 start since 2000 before being defeated by then-No. 17 LSU, 5-2. Last season ASU started 6-0-2 before its first loss in the season's ninth game.
• Douglas posted the ninth multi-goal game of her career with two in ASU's 3-2 upset of Colorado on Oct. 28. She is currently tied with Cali Farquharson for second place on ASU's all-time list in career goals (44) and is in sole possession of second place in both career points (103) and career game-winning goals (14). ASU Hall of Famer Stacey Tullock (1998-2001) holds all three records with 125 points and 50 goals, including 16 game-winning goals. Douglas (17 goals, 39 points) is currently tied for first place with Tullock for most goals in a season (17) and trails Tullock (41 points) by two points for most points in a season.
• Douglas (17 goals) & Olivia Nguyen (6 goals) have combined for 23 of ASU's 37 goals. Although Douglas and Nguyen have accounted for the majority of the goals, ASU has had 10 different players find the back of the net this season. Kearse-Thomas (3), van Deursen (3), and Wilkinson (2) and have also scored multiple goals this season
• van Deursen missed ASU's games vs. then-No. 21 Texas Tech and at Colorado College due to national team call up. On Sept. 19, van Deursen helped the Dutch U23 National Team claim a 3-0 win over Sweden. With her eighth assist of the season vs. Colorado (Oct. 28), van Deursen moved into a three-way tie for second place in the school's record book for most assists in a season and is now in a three-way tie for fourth place in career assists (18). van Deursen's 0.5 assists per game currently rank 34th nationally.
• ASU started the season with a pair of true freshman goalkeepers – Julia Ortega & Birta Gudlaugs each played a half in ASU's first two games – as the team was forced to go without two-year starter Giulia Cascaperan due to injury. Gudlaugs has played every minute 12 times this season and is the owner of three shutouts: at Mississippi State (Aug. 26), vs. Nebraska in Tucson (Sept. 9) and at Colorado College (Sept. 17). Ortega started ASU's contests at OSU (Oct. 7) and at Cal (Oct. 24). She made a (then) season-high six saves at Cal (Oct. 24) and followed that with a season-high seven saves in ASU's 3-2 win over Colorado (Oct. 28).
• ASU has scored at least one goal in all but three games (at Oregon - Oct. 10, at Stanford - Oct. 21 and at Cal - Oct. 24) and has scored multiple goals 10 times this season. Against then-No. 3 UCLA (Oct. 3), the Sun Devils scored more goals in the first half (three) than the Bruins had given up in all 10 of their games combined (two) coming into the game. The three goals were the most scored against the Bruins since the 2019 NCAA Tournament – a span of 27 games.
• ASU has had 22 different players in the starting lineup this season. Nicole Douglas and Callie Darst are the only players who have started every game this season. van Deursen has started all 16 games she has played in.
• Douglas (Offensive POW/Week One), Lieske Carleer (Defensive POW/Week Two) and Birta Gudlaugs (goalkeeper of the week/Week Two) have combined for three Pac-12 Player of the Week honors this season.
EXPERIENCE COUNTS
• Nicole Douglas – Has started all 69 of her career games.
• Callie Darst – Has started 32 straight games and 54 of 55 career games.
• Lieske Carleer – Has started 49 of the 50 games she has played in/DNP vs. Nebraska (9/9) and Texas Tech (9/12) did not start at Washington (9/24) after starting and playing only five minutes vs. Colorado College (9/17).
• Alexia Delgado – Had started 20 of last 21 games she has played in and has started 55 of 62 career games. Returned from injury in ASU's contest at Washington (Sept. 24) after not playing since Aug. 22. Due to Mexican National Team call up, was not with the team for its games at Stanford (Oct. 21) and at Cal (Oct. 24).
• Eva van Deursen – Started last 29 games she's played in & 64 of 67 career games. DNP vs. Texas Tech (9/12)/at Colorado College (9/17) due to international call-up.
• Jessica Hale – Had started 21 of last 22 games she has played in and 32 of 57 career games. Has missed ASU's last 10 games due to injury.
• Jazmine Wilkinson – Has started 26 of 35 career games.
• Olivia Nguyen – Has started 33 of last 36 games and 34 of 59 career games. All of her career goals (10) and assists (7) have come in the last two seasons.
• Cori Sullivan – Has started 33 of 47 career games.
• Olivia Kearse-Thomas – Has played in 82 games with 44 career starts.
• Isabel Dehakiz – Started the first six games last season before a season-ending injury. Has started 31 of 50 career games. Her 21 minutes on the field vs. UCLA on Oct. 3, represented the first time she played since last season. She was in the starting lineup at Oregon State (Oct. 7), at Stanford (Oct. 21) and at Cal (Oct. 24).
• Jayda Hylton-Pelaia – Has 70 starting assignments in 74 career games. Has started 15 of her 18 games as a Sun Devil after transferring from East Carolina.
• Lucy Johnson – Has started 17 of 24 career games. Has started six of 13 games this season, missing five due to injury. Returned to action at Stanford on Oct. 21.
• Dai Williams – Has started 14 of 37 games with one start in 11 games in 2021.
• Tahlia Herman-Watt – Started nine of 16 games as last spring & has played in 11 games this season (one start at Oregon State (Oct. 7). Was not with team at Stanford (Oct. 21) or at Cal (Oct. 24) due to New Zealand National Team assignment.
• Vildan Kardesler – Originally joined ASU as a transfer from Pitt. Has started 30 of 41 career games, including five of the six contests she played in last spring before her season was cut short due to injury. Made her first appearance of 2021 in ASU's 3-2 win over Colorado (Oct. 28).
• *Giulia Cascapera – Started all 34 career games coming into the season but has not played due preseason injury.
*Has not played this season
RECAPPING LAST SEASON
ASU is coming off its best season under head coach Graham Winkworth, finishing the regular season with an 9-6-2 record and making the postseason for the first time since 2014 and the eighth time in school history. ASU made it to the second round of the tournament to become the fifth ASU soccer team to advance that far.
Winkworth and company boasted an undefeated non-conference slate, including an overtime comeback thriller at Grand Canyon to protect the win-streak. ASU continued its unbeaten streak through eight games and notched wins against UCLA, Stanford, and USC to become only the fourth team in history to beat all three programs in a single season. With a 4-4-2 record in Pac-12 Conference play, the Sun Devils finished in the middle of the table after being picked to finish last in the preseason poll.
The Sun Devils scored 28 goals in 17 games, second-most in the Pac-12 Conference. ASU boasted one of the strongest defensive lines in the Pac-12, conceding only 16 goals and forcing ASU's keepers to make only 57 saves - fifth-fewest amongst Conference competitors.