ASU Soccer: Seven different Sun Devils score in win over Tennessee Tech

The start of the season for the Sun Devils has looked like a shoot around in practice. Arizona State’s (3-0-0) attack continued its relentless ability to put the ball in the back of the net. On Friday, ASU cruised to a 7-1 win against Tennessee Tech (0-1-2) with each goal scored by a different player.

Friday’s results follow the trend of ASU’s high powered offense thus far. Of the 18 goals scored in three matches, only one Sun Devil has more than three - sophomore forward Nicole Douglas - and 10 different players have scored, matching the team’s total from last season.

“When you have the starters coming over to me telling me that statistic, that we have seven different scorers. It’s (Douglas) coming over excited about that fact. Just tells you the chemistry we’ve managed to create,” head coach Graham Winkworth said. “She’s so happy, And every one is so happy for each other, it’s so fun. We got a lot of depth, a lot of quality.

“No one can get comfortable, whether you are Nicole Douglas or anybody else because there’s people coming in scoring goals, wanting to take your place. It’s the same thing in other parts of the field. That’s exciting for me, but it gives me difficult headaches when it comes to team selection.”

Last year, Douglas led the team with nine goals scored in her freshman campaign. Once again, first-year Sun Devils are making an impact. Freshmen Dai Williams and Makenzie Harvey netted scores, plus Virginia transfer Lorato Sargeant nailed one off the post and in.

Sargeant has no issue scoring, she’s used to attacking. However, in her three matches as part of the ASU team, Winkworth has slotted her as a defender in the right back position. Sargeant has made the transition go smoothly.

“I was a bit weary at first because I had never really played defensively,” said Sargeant on the position change. “I think with the help of our backline they’ve really coached me and made sure I’m in the right spots, doing my position well. Attacking wise I think I got that down, so that hasn’t been too much of a change there.”

Sophomore midfielder Eva Van Deursen has been the most unselfish player with her four assists. She is on pace to blow by former Sun Devil Jemma Purfield’s team-high of six in 2018. Van Deursen shaped up the first score to Douglas to start the scoring barrage. Although, on the other side of an assist from sophomore Alexia Delgado, Van Deursen’s 52nd minute goal showcased the team’s chemistry.

“If I look at my own goal, there was a fantastic pass from (freshman defender) Lieske (Carleer) to the winger and Alexia crossed it for me. She gave me the goal basically,” Van Deursen said. “She could’ve shot it herself, but we want to give each other the goals as much as possible. If you’re in a better position to score we like to give it to each other.”

Senior Adriana Orozco and sophomore Marleen Schimmer scored early on too. Arizona State will host Weber State, who lost to Arizona 6-0 on Friday, Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

“We’re in a good spot,” Winkworth said. “We’ve created a lot of goal scoring chances and we’re being very clinical in front of goal. But we haven’t had a clean sheet yet and we’ve played three games, so that’s a little disappointing. We’re ahead of where we were this time last year.”