Soccer heads to Las Vegas for tilt against UNLV before facing New Mexico State on Sunday
TEMPE – Sun Devil Soccer wraps up their road trip on Thursday with a trip to Las Vegas to face UNLV at 7 p.m. MST on Mountain West Network at Peter Johann Memorial Field before returning to Tempe on Sunday for the first of seven home matches facing New Mexico State at 7 p.m. MST on ESPN+.
Live stats are available on StatBroadcast for both matches. With a purchase of adult tickets, tickets for kids in the sixth grade or younger are complimentary for all home matches this 2025 season.
The Sun Devils meet UNLV for the first time in 10 years, their last matchup coming on August 29, 2015 in a 6-0 win for ASU in Tempe. 2025 Sun Devil Hall of Famer Cali Farquharson scored two goals in the win.
Last Thursday, the Sun Devils battled to a 1-1 draw against Texas with Cameron Valladores delivering the goal 41 seconds in for the fourth quickest goal in program history. The ASU defense held the Longhorn attack to one goal as senior goalkeeper Pauline Nelles registered five saves.
On Sunday, the Sun Devils scored five unanswered goals led by Sierra Bergen scoring a brace to defeat Texas State, 5-1. Freshman Addison Baltodano secured her first collegiate goal, Washington transfer Tatum Thomason also found the back of the net and Ava Wright scored for the Sun Devils. Additionally, senior forward Valladores tied a career-high with two assists in the match.
About UNLV:
The Rebels have dropped two matches and tied to Utah Tech at home this season. This past Sunday, UNLV fell against UC San Diego, 2-3, on the road. In 2024, the Rebels went 7-11-2, while finishing 5-5-1 in the Mountain West Conference.
The Rebels have had three different goal scorers this season, while Cassie Villanueva and Cadence Whitley have a goal and an assist each for three points this season.
About New Mexico State:
The Aggies have played four matches this season and secured their lone victory against Abilene Christian in a 1-0 result on August 17th. They faced off against conference rival Arizona and No. 5 USC last weekend and were unable to find the back of the net. They’ll face Big 12 opponent Colorado on Thursday before traveling to Tempe to play on Sunday. Senior Meredith Scott has scored both goals for the Aggies this season, including the game-winner against Abilene Christian. In 2023, the Sun Devils defeated the Aggies 4-1 in New Mexico.
All eyes on Cam:
The senior has netted at least a point in all three matches for the Sun Devils this season and is tied with a team-best five points with teammate Sierra Bergen. In the win against Texas State, she tied a career-best with two assists and scored the lone goal against Texas in the 1-1 draw last Thursday.
Valladares is currently on a career-best point streak, compiling one goal and three assists through three games. Half of her shot attempts have been on goal so far this year.
Nelles in Net:
The senior goalkeeper has made 60 straight starts in goal for the Sun Devils and notched her 19th career shutout in the win over the Wildcats on August 14th. Currently, with 238 career saves, she ranks fourth in program history and is one of five Sun Devils to have recorded 200+ saves in their career. She’s one win away from 30 career wins which would tie Kim Bingham (2003-06) for third in program history.
Brace for Bergen!
In her second game as a Sun Devil she scored her first two collegiate goals in the victory against Texas State, setting a career-high with four points. She had a game-high six shot attempts with three coming on goal against the Bobcats. Last Thursday, against Texas the Mississippi State transfer recorded her first assist of the season and played 85 minutes in her first appearance as a Sun Devil.
Milestone watch:
-Nelles is 27 saves away from surpassing Kim Bingham for third in program history.
-Nelles now has 60 career starts which ranks fourth in program history.
-Forward Cameron Valladares is two games away from 50 career matches.
-Valladares reached 30 career points against Texas (8/21), she has a point in three straight matches to begin the year.
-Washington transfer Tatum Thomason is 1 starts away from 50 career starts.
-Thomason is 1 goals away from 10 career goals.
Early Season Success:
Since 2018 the Sun Devils have had a run of success in the opening month of play, compiling a 16-0-7 record in the month of August. ASU has outscored teams 68-15 in those games.
Preseason Recognition:
Reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year Kierra Blundell was named to the 2025 Big 12 Preseason Team and the only sophomore forward to make the list. She earned spots on the Big 12 Second Team All-Conference honors and on the Big 12 All-Freshman list.
Welcome to Tempe:
The Sun Devils have welcomed 14 new players to the roster and return 12 players from the 2024 season. Midfielder Miki Hayashi made an impact in the home opener with the first Sun Devil goal of the year from a corner kick against Nevada. In addition, UCLA transfer Peyton Marcisz registered her first career goal in the win over Nevada on August 14.
Mississippi State transfer Sierra Bergen recorded a brace in the win against Texas State, Washington transfer Tatum Thomason scored her first goal as a Sun Devil last Sunday.
Sun Devil Hall of Fame
Cali Farquharson is one of eight inductees in the Sun Devil Athletics class of 2025. Farquharson, left an indelible mark on Sun Devil Soccer during her career from 2012-15 and the only Sun Devil to record double-digit goals in four straight seasons. She finished her career second all-time in goals (44) and points (102).
Farquharson was a clutch performer, one of four at ASU through 2015 with more than 10 game-winning goals. She earned NSCAA All-Region honors and All-Pac-12 recognition three times.
Spanning the Globe:
The Sun Devil soccer team has 17 international student-athletes competing, led by Canada with seven players. England (four) and South Africa (two) also have multiple players, while, Japan, Norway, Germany and the Netherlands have one player each.
Sun Devils For Life, and Only Sun Devils:
With the transfer portal impacting collegiate athletics and roster movement taking place in all sports. Players staying all four years at a college isn’t as common as it used to be. Below is a list of Sun Devil Soccer players who have started as Sun Devils and will finish their careers as Sun Devils.
In the win against Texas State, Ava Wright scored her second career goal off a corner kick and her first since September 18, 2022 against Toledo.
Four-year Sun Devils
Ava Wright, Defender, Coldstream, B.C.
Brianna Nunley, Midfielder, Chandler, Arizona
Pauline Nelles, Goalkeeper, Bonn, Germany
Meighan Farrel, Defender, Walnut Creek, California.
Barrett, The Honors College
The Sun Devils have nine student-athletes enrolled in Barrett, The Honors College. Honors students are diverse and come from a wide range of backgrounds. Barrett students take additional honors courses and are required to complete a thesis during their college experience.
Soccer student-athletes in Barrett, The Honors College:
Norah Bell, Business
Kierra Blundell, Sports Science and Performance Programming
Addison Haws, Biological Sciences (Biomedical Sciences)
Miki Hayashi, Data Science
Olivia Herrera, Business (Sports Business)
Brianna Nunley, Marketing
Katherine Ozard, Medical Studies
Tano Uzezi-Itesa, Health Sciences
Ava Wright, Biological Sciences, (Biomedical Sciences)
Blundell’s Best:
Appearing in all 19 matches as a freshman last season Blundell garnered 2024 Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and scored a team-best nine goals, which was ninth nationally among freshmen last year and eighth in the Big 12 overall.
The sophomore had two multi-goal games last season, including a hat trick against Penn. Her two game-winning goals came against Houston and Penn. In 2024, the Sun Devils were 7-3-1 when Blundell registered at least one point in a match.
Looking Ahead:
Following the Sun Devils match against the Aggies, the Maroon and Gold continue their home-stand against Pepperdine on September 4 at 7 p.m. MST and then face Denver on September 7 at 10 a.m. Both matches can be seen on ESPN+ which requires a subscription.
Be sure to stay connected with Sun Devil Soccer throughout the season on social media by following @SunDevilSoccer on Instagram, X , Facebook and sundevils.com.