TEMPE – Sun Devil Soccer returns to the pitch on Thursday when they host Little Rock at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. The final game of the season-opening three-game homestand is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. AZT.
Arizona State enters the contest with a 1-0-1 record following two home games last week. They followed a 1-1 draw against Northern Arizona on Friday with a 6-0 shutout of Wagner on Sunday.
Kierra Blundell leads the team with five points through two games. Her two goals are tied with Enasia Colon and Megan Sofield for the team lead. Addison Haws leads the team with two assists, while Cameron Valladares has posted one goal and one assist. Pauline Nelles has a 0.50 goals-against-average through two games.
WATCH: ESPN+ will carry 11 Sun Devil home games and every Big 12 road game. ESPN+ is available via the ESPN App, ESPN.com or espnplus.com. Subscribers can watch it via most major mobile and connected TV platforms, including iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, Android devices, Roku, and Chromecast.
SERIES NOTES: ASU and Little Rock will meet for the first time on Thursday. It's the second straight game the Sun Devils are facing a new opponent.
ABOUT LITTLE ROCK: The Trojans head to The Valley following a 2-0 loss at Arkansas State last Thursday. They allowed both goals in the first half and were outshot 15-9.
Jaeda Centeno registered four shots with two on goal to lead the team. Amaya Arias attempted two shots, and Peyton Urban made two saves in goal.
HOME COOKING: With a draw and a win to start the season, ASU extended its unbeaten streak to 18 (12-0-6) consecutive non-conference home games dating back to the 2019 season. They also moved to 17-3-5 when playing at home during August.
The Sun Devils have 12 home games on the schedule in 2024, the most since ASU played 15 during the 2000 season, the year the facility opened. ASU is 120-74-29 (.603) at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
ATTACKING AUGUST: The Sun Devils have developed a run of success during August the past few years. Over the previous six seasons, ASU is 12-0-5 in August. They have outscored the opposition 53-11 in those games while scoring four-plus goals in a game eight times.
WELCOME TO ASU: ASU has had 21 players appear in a game this season, with eight making their debut in the Maroon & Gold. The eight newcomers – including five freshmen – have combined to score five goals while adding five assists.
COLON CLIMBS: Enasia Colon scored a pair of goals against Wagner for her fourth career multi-goal game. She has scored 13 goals as a Sun Devil and currently ranks tied for 16th in program history.
Colon is up to 19th in team history with 35 career points. She also ranks in the ASU top 20 in shot percentage and per-game average in goals, assists, points, shots, and shots on goal.
FRESHMAN PHENOM: Kierra Blundell has opened her Sun Devil account in record fashion. She currently leads the team with five points with two goals and one assist.
Blundell became the first freshman to score in the season opener for ASU since Nicole Douglas scored against Montana in the first game of the 2018 season. She joined Patrice Feulner (2000) as the only two freshmen to score in the season's first two games.
FRESHMAN SENSATION: Megan Sofield also made an impact during the season's first week. The freshman scored two goals in the win over Wagner to become the 30th different player in program history with a multi-goal game.
Sofield currently leads the team with eight shots and six shots on goal.
FAST START: Cameron Valladares has quickly adjusted to being a Sun Devil. The transfer assisted on the team's goal against NAU and scored the first goal against Wagner.
The Valladares' goal against Wagner was the game-winner. She and Blundell are the only Sun Devils to record a point in each of the first two games.
CAPTAIN DANGEROUS: ASU captain Lucy Johnson has attempted four shots with three on goal through two games. She created a pair of dangerous scoring chances in the opener, including a shot from distance that caromed off the crossbar in the third minute.
NELLES NOTES: Pauline Nelles picked up her 20th career win and 13th career shutout against Wagner. She is sixth in program history in wins and fifth in shutouts. She enters Thursday having played 2,790 consecutive minutes in goal for the Sun Devils.
Top Drawer Soccer ranked Nelles No. 21 in their Preseason Top 100 Players list. She was the highest-ranked player from the Big 12 and was also named to the TDS Preseason Best XI Second Team.
WINKWORTH SECOND: ASU's win over Wagner was win No. 60 leading the Sun Devils for head coach Graham Winkworth. That tied him with Ray Leone for the second-most wins in program history.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Sun Devils will embark on their first road trip of the season, heading to Baton Rouge, La., to face LSU on Sunday at 5 p.m. AZT.
Arizona State enters the contest with a 1-0-1 record following two home games last week. They followed a 1-1 draw against Northern Arizona on Friday with a 6-0 shutout of Wagner on Sunday.
Kierra Blundell leads the team with five points through two games. Her two goals are tied with Enasia Colon and Megan Sofield for the team lead. Addison Haws leads the team with two assists, while Cameron Valladares has posted one goal and one assist. Pauline Nelles has a 0.50 goals-against-average through two games.
WATCH: ESPN+ will carry 11 Sun Devil home games and every Big 12 road game. ESPN+ is available via the ESPN App, ESPN.com or espnplus.com. Subscribers can watch it via most major mobile and connected TV platforms, including iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, Android devices, Roku, and Chromecast.
SERIES NOTES: ASU and Little Rock will meet for the first time on Thursday. It's the second straight game the Sun Devils are facing a new opponent.
ABOUT LITTLE ROCK: The Trojans head to The Valley following a 2-0 loss at Arkansas State last Thursday. They allowed both goals in the first half and were outshot 15-9.
Jaeda Centeno registered four shots with two on goal to lead the team. Amaya Arias attempted two shots, and Peyton Urban made two saves in goal.
HOME COOKING: With a draw and a win to start the season, ASU extended its unbeaten streak to 18 (12-0-6) consecutive non-conference home games dating back to the 2019 season. They also moved to 17-3-5 when playing at home during August.
The Sun Devils have 12 home games on the schedule in 2024, the most since ASU played 15 during the 2000 season, the year the facility opened. ASU is 120-74-29 (.603) at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
ATTACKING AUGUST: The Sun Devils have developed a run of success during August the past few years. Over the previous six seasons, ASU is 12-0-5 in August. They have outscored the opposition 53-11 in those games while scoring four-plus goals in a game eight times.
WELCOME TO ASU: ASU has had 21 players appear in a game this season, with eight making their debut in the Maroon & Gold. The eight newcomers – including five freshmen – have combined to score five goals while adding five assists.
COLON CLIMBS: Enasia Colon scored a pair of goals against Wagner for her fourth career multi-goal game. She has scored 13 goals as a Sun Devil and currently ranks tied for 16th in program history.
Colon is up to 19th in team history with 35 career points. She also ranks in the ASU top 20 in shot percentage and per-game average in goals, assists, points, shots, and shots on goal.
FRESHMAN PHENOM: Kierra Blundell has opened her Sun Devil account in record fashion. She currently leads the team with five points with two goals and one assist.
Blundell became the first freshman to score in the season opener for ASU since Nicole Douglas scored against Montana in the first game of the 2018 season. She joined Patrice Feulner (2000) as the only two freshmen to score in the season's first two games.
FRESHMAN SENSATION: Megan Sofield also made an impact during the season's first week. The freshman scored two goals in the win over Wagner to become the 30th different player in program history with a multi-goal game.
Sofield currently leads the team with eight shots and six shots on goal.
FAST START: Cameron Valladares has quickly adjusted to being a Sun Devil. The transfer assisted on the team's goal against NAU and scored the first goal against Wagner.
The Valladares' goal against Wagner was the game-winner. She and Blundell are the only Sun Devils to record a point in each of the first two games.
CAPTAIN DANGEROUS: ASU captain Lucy Johnson has attempted four shots with three on goal through two games. She created a pair of dangerous scoring chances in the opener, including a shot from distance that caromed off the crossbar in the third minute.
NELLES NOTES: Pauline Nelles picked up her 20th career win and 13th career shutout against Wagner. She is sixth in program history in wins and fifth in shutouts. She enters Thursday having played 2,790 consecutive minutes in goal for the Sun Devils.
Top Drawer Soccer ranked Nelles No. 21 in their Preseason Top 100 Players list. She was the highest-ranked player from the Big 12 and was also named to the TDS Preseason Best XI Second Team.
WINKWORTH SECOND: ASU's win over Wagner was win No. 60 leading the Sun Devils for head coach Graham Winkworth. That tied him with Ray Leone for the second-most wins in program history.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Sun Devils will embark on their first road trip of the season, heading to Baton Rouge, La., to face LSU on Sunday at 5 p.m. AZT.