Tempe, Ariz.- The 2022 season included the program's second NCAA appearance in three seasons – came to an end in a 3-0 loss at No. 8 seed Portland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA match was the last for ASU's outstanding quartet of fifth-year seniors: forwards Nicole Douglas and Olivia Nguyen and midfielders Alexia Delgado and Eva van Deursen. The four players combined for 337 games played and 298 starts while collectively amassing 101 goals and 73 assists. Under Winkworth, the Sun Devils have now posted a winning record in three consecutive seasons, the first time since 2012-15. The future is bright for the Sun Devils as they look to the 2023 season.
"Almost every coach is disappointed at the end of the season as only one team wins the national championship, '' Graham Winkworth said. "I am no exception. However, after having some time to reflect on not only this season, but the past few years, I look back with incredible pride. We finished with a national RPI ranking of 32 while maintaining our incredible high standards in the classroom. On the pitch, the personal highlight for me was getting the victory over Arizona. This is something that had bugged me since my arrival in Tempe and so I was delighted with that moment for all the players and staff."
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— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) November 5, 2022
Despite the results, ASU had a successful season in Winkworth's sixth season. ASU opened up the season 6-0-2 and during that span, Nicole Douglas broke Stacey Tullock's 21-year-old program record in career goals, scoring two goals against UAB on Sep. 1st to give her the record. Douglas would go on to score 14 goals and three assists and be named the Pac-12 Forward of the Year as well as earn first-team All-Pac-12 honors. She finished the season eighth in the country in goals per game (0.78) and 13th in points per game (1.72). Van Deursen tied Stacey Tullock for the program record in assists with 25. She finished the season with seven goals and five assists. Alexia Delgado also scored a career-high five goals on the season. Delgado and Van Deursen, along with freshman goalie Pauline Nelles, received all-conference honors, with Delgado being named to the second team and Van Deursen and Nelles on the third team. Eight players found the back of the net for the nation's 28th-ranked scoring offense. Douglas and Delgado also earned United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region Honors, with Douglas being named to the first team, and Delgado on the second team.
Congratulations to @Nicoledouglasss (1st team) & @AlexiaDelgado99 (2nd team) for earning United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region team honors! ??????#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/JGgAYAHiz3
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) November 30, 2022
"The impact of our seniors is something I must also talk about. Not only are they leaving a huge legacy from their accomplishments on the pitch, they are leaving so much more having impacted so many lives over the last 4/5 years. These women are incredible and I hope they will be a part of my family's life forever."
As the Sun Devils prepare for the spring exhibition season, the Sun Devils return four players who've logged over 1000 minutes and eight players with 500 minutes on the pitch, the Sun Devils have the foundation to compete in the 2023 season.
"As we look to the future it is now about maintaining and building upon the high standards that our seniors helped us create. We will look very different next season with the loss of the seniors. However, being different doesn't mean we need to change our goals or standards," Winkworth stated.
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— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) November 25, 2022
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