1997 Season Outlook
As the Sun Devils prepare to break the seal on the 1997 season, second year head coach Terri Patraw plans to have her team right in the mix.
"We want to be competitive with every single program in the Pac-10, and I believe we will be," Patraw says. "We opened some eyes last year in terms of how competitive we were, and I think we will continue to open some more eyes this year."
Despite losing both goalkeepers (Amy Moxley and Erin Reinke) early in the year to season-ending injuries as well as having to start 10 freshmen, Patraw points out that maturity is a key element in having a successful program.
"Experience really matters. Even with talent you need experience... we had a good solid team last year, but only two players had Division I experience."
This season, the Sun Devils return everybody on offense and defense with considerably more seasoning. "A lot of players played 90 minutes a game last year," says Patraw. "This year our sophomores look like seniors in the sense that they are taking ownership of the team. Also, having a year of experience under their belts is very beneficial."
In addition to having all of its vital players back, Arizona State welcomes eight freshmen to an already competitive squad. "They are a very exciting class that will fill several needs, and I look for them to have a major impact," says Patraw. "The players that we have brought in will definitely add more depth and competition in practices, as well as giving us a solid starting lineup."
The Sun Devils will open with a 3-4-3 alignment that will be creative and entertaining.
FORWARDS
This group will be led by highly talented sophomore Aisha Thomas. The Madison, Wisconsin native has had a great preseason and should turn some heads. "Aisha has the ability to be a very special player," says Patraw. "She's just a phenomenal athlete who gets better every game."
Freshman Karine Inoue, who was an all-C.I.F. and an all-League Most Valuable Player her sophomore and junior years, arrives at ASU with some impressive numbers. Inoue blasted 111 shots, scored 27 goals and posted seven assists her junior year at Laguna Hills High School in California. She sat out most of her senior season with a stress fracture.
"Karine is a fantastic finisher, who is fitting in very nicely up front," says Patraw. "She has given our team another scoring threat up top."
Inoue's battery mate on the front line will be sophomore Sarah Blaska, who led the team in points last year with 10. "Sarah is awfully creative and has great chemistry with Karine," says Patraw. "Those two players really hit it off."
With the addition of Inoue, look for Blaska, who tied for the team-high in goals with four, to capitalize on more goal scoring opportunities.
Rounding out the quartet is sophomore Patricia Steiner. An elusive player, Steiner started all 16 games in '96 and led the team in shots with 21. "Trisha is extremely quick and gives us another dynamic element up front," says Patraw.
MIDFIELDERS
This is an area that Patraw feels is critical in a successful team. "This is a part of the field that we have upgraded the most, which is important."
Part of the upgrade will come from freshman Jessica Bohl. An Ironwood High School standout, Bohl has a great combination of finesse and quickness. She was a first-team all-region and all-Arizona selection her senior year. Bohl tallied 21 goals on her way to being named the region's Co-Player of the Year. Patraw simply puts it this way: "Jessica is magic with the ball."
Freshman Antoinette Marjanovic will join Bohl in the middle to add a distinctive sparkle to this line. "The two of them have a lot of flare and are extremely creative-they will be fun to watch," says Patraw. "They will do quite a job in the middle of the field." Marjanovic comes to ASU with some outstanding international experience, having played for the Croatian National team. She is the youngest and first American-Croatian to make the team. The four-time Mayfield Senior High MVP, Marjanovic was a member of the Olympic Development squad and was named "Who's Who" among High School students her junior and senior seasons.
Fortifying and adding stability to the midfield will be senior co-captain Julie Blagg, who started in all 16 games last year. Blagg posted three points, including a goal in Arizona State's first game against Cal State-Northridge. "Julie has a great work ethic as well as giving our team needed leadership, experience and composure." Patraw says.
Battling for position on the outside will be a group made up of Kim Wagner, Ariane Stramiello, Kerrie Kulak and Erin McGinnis. Wagner, a sophomore, posted eight points last season and scored the game-winning goal in the Sun Devils first ever tilt against Arizona. Stramiello, a freshman from Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, was the Arizona 5A Player of the Year and Central Region Player of the Year in '97. She was also part of the Olympic Development select program. Kulak was a walkon last year who played in all 16 games and scored three points.
McGinnis, a freshman from Aurora, Colorado, was an all-state selection her junior and senior years, as well as an all-conference choice from 1995-97. "Erin is incredibly physical and strong," says Patraw. "Opponents will not want to play against her."
Overall, Patraw likes what she sees from this group. "We have clearly increased our speed and technical ability at this position."
DEFENSE
The Sun Devils will use an array of defensive players to disarm its opponents during the season. "All of our defenders bring a lot of different elements to the table," says Patraw. "Sometimes it might depend on the game situation, when and how someone is used."
At sweeper will be sophomore Marianne Simmons. A constant fiber in the ASU defense, Simmons also added some scoring punch last season with four goals. "Marianne looks great and will lead us at the back," says Patraw. "She's a sophomore playing like a senior right now."
Fellow sophomore Jill Rivard, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime to complete the sweep over Arizona, will shadow the opponents top player. "Jill is our best one versus one defender on the team, she's very tenacious," says Patraw.
Freshman Jaclyn Clark, who set the Rochester, Michigan High School career records in goals (84), assists (41), points (209) and game-winning goals (25), will bolster the defense with her explosiveness. "Jaclyn gives us a golden speed dimension," says Patraw. "She also has had great experience playing at the regional level as a youth player."
In addition to traveling with the Olympic Development Team to Europe, Clark was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the Umbro Regional All-America Soccer Teams.
Also in the defensive rotation will be sophomores Sharon Gillis and Megan Mullin. "Both are good solid defenders who should see playing time," says Patraw.
GOALKEEPERS
Having a full cast of goalkeepers this year, after last season's disaster of losing starting keeper Amy Moxley and backup Erin Rienke to season-ending injuries, Patraw's expectations are a little higher. "It will be great to have a full complement of goalkeepers this season, along with some additional division I experience."
Co-captain Amy Moxley is a fifth-year senior who has the most NCAA experience. "Amy provides the team with experience and leadership from her playing days at Kentucky," says Patraw. During the third game of the season against Willamette, Moxley reinjuried her ACL and was sidelined for the season, but has since fully recovered and will be ready for opening day.
Sophomore Erin Reinke also will be back in goal this year after suffering a season-ending head injury in ASU's second game against Loyola Marymount. "Erin is a great athlete, who unfortunately didn't get the experience we were hoping," says Patraw. Before her injury, Reinke looked good in goal stopping four shots in shutting out Cal Sate-Northridge.
Enter Kari Laughlin, a junior, who was slated as a midfielder last year before being called upon for goalkeeping duties. Laughlin was ASU's lone keeper and filled in admirably with a 2.53 goals against average. "Kari gained great experience last year in her first season in goal," says Patraw. "She's still continuing to make progress."
SCHEDULE
In addition to adding a full slate of Pacific-10 Conference games this year, the Sun Devils will also double its home games to 10. "A full Pac-10 schedule will be great because it will give you an idea of where you rate with everybody," says Patraw. Non-conference opponents making the journey to Tempe include UTEP, Creighton, New Mexico, Loyola Marymount, Tennessee and Montana. Patraw feels that a couple of teams that ASU plays this year will be a good barometer. "We play Colorado and Tennessee who also started programs when we did. We are all on the same time frame and that will be a good measuring stick of where our program is at this particular point."