IRVING, Texas – Heading into the program's first season as a member of the Big 12, Sun Devil Soccer was picked to finish fifth in the 2024 Big 12 Soccer Preseason Poll. In addition, Enasia Colon, Lucy Johnson, and Pauline Nelles were voted to the preseason team.
Coming off consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in program history, the Sun Devils received 157 points in the poll of the league's 16 head coaches. ASU brings back 21 players from the 2023 squad, including 16 who played in the NCAA Tournament game at Santa Clara.
Colon enters her junior season after being named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Second Team last season. She led ASU with nine goals and 22 points. Colon tallied three multi-goal games and scored three game-winning goals, including two in the final 10 minutes. In 20 appearances – all starts – Colon also distributed four assists while putting 22 of her 48 shots on goal.
Johnson is coming off an injury-plagued 2023 but still made an impact on the team's success. ASU conceded just six goals in her nine games and posted four shutouts. Johnson led the Sun Devils with eight assists in 2022, tied for third-most in ASU's single-season annals.
Nelles has had one of the best seasons by a goalkeeper in program history in 2023 to make the Pac-12 Second Team. While playing every minute in goal for the Sun Devils this season, Nelles had a 0.89 goals-against-average and .804 save percentage. She set the program record for shutouts in a season with a Pac-12 leading nine while ranking second in the conference in save percentage and third in GAA.
BYU was chosen as the favorite to win the conference, with nine first-place votes and 206 points. Texas Tech received six first-place votes and 205 points to place second, with TCU third with 197 points and the final first-place selection. Colorado was the fourth selection and the first of the four newcomers to the conference in 2023.
The ASU schedule has the Sun Devils facing just two of the four teams above them in the preseason poll. They visit BYU on Sept. 12 in the first Big 12 game in school history. They will then travel to TCU on Oct. 13.
The top 12 teams in the final conference standings will earn a berth into the 2024 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championship, with the first four teams receiving a bye into the quarterfinals.
Coming off consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in program history, the Sun Devils received 157 points in the poll of the league's 16 head coaches. ASU brings back 21 players from the 2023 squad, including 16 who played in the NCAA Tournament game at Santa Clara.
Colon enters her junior season after being named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Second Team last season. She led ASU with nine goals and 22 points. Colon tallied three multi-goal games and scored three game-winning goals, including two in the final 10 minutes. In 20 appearances – all starts – Colon also distributed four assists while putting 22 of her 48 shots on goal.
Johnson is coming off an injury-plagued 2023 but still made an impact on the team's success. ASU conceded just six goals in her nine games and posted four shutouts. Johnson led the Sun Devils with eight assists in 2022, tied for third-most in ASU's single-season annals.
Nelles has had one of the best seasons by a goalkeeper in program history in 2023 to make the Pac-12 Second Team. While playing every minute in goal for the Sun Devils this season, Nelles had a 0.89 goals-against-average and .804 save percentage. She set the program record for shutouts in a season with a Pac-12 leading nine while ranking second in the conference in save percentage and third in GAA.
BYU was chosen as the favorite to win the conference, with nine first-place votes and 206 points. Texas Tech received six first-place votes and 205 points to place second, with TCU third with 197 points and the final first-place selection. Colorado was the fourth selection and the first of the four newcomers to the conference in 2023.
The ASU schedule has the Sun Devils facing just two of the four teams above them in the preseason poll. They visit BYU on Sept. 12 in the first Big 12 game in school history. They will then travel to TCU on Oct. 13.
The top 12 teams in the final conference standings will earn a berth into the 2024 Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championship, with the first four teams receiving a bye into the quarterfinals.