(Photo: Steve Rodriguez/ ASU athletics)
Coming into this weekend, head coach Kevin Boyd was concerned with forward Devin Marshall’s production, as she had only scored one goal in three games.
That all changed, however, as Marshall found the back of the net four times during this weekend’s Sun Devil Classic.
Marshall’s two goals on Sunday helped the Arizona State soccer team capture their third straight win as they defeated Kansas 4-0.
“She just needed to remember that she’s a goal scorer,” Boyd said. “She just needed that reminder, and needed the drive to go out and get goals. She’s got that again.”
Marshall said she was pleased with the overall effort of the team.
“It’s nice to be scoring goals,” Marshall said. “I was happy with the way we performed, and we were able to win our tournament, which was our ultimate goal.”
Forward Cali Farquharson extended her streak of consecutive games with a goal to eight (dating back to last season), as she scored her seventh goal of the season. Boyd acknowledges that his offense is firing on all cylinders.
“We’ve got the two-headed monster,” Boyd said. “Both of those two girls are absolutely difference makers. They’re just special players.”
With the two wins under their belt this weekend, Boyd was pleased with his team’s effort and conditioning.
“We’re showing resilience. I think we responded really well from Friday night on things we didn’t do as well as we should’ve. I think we’re handling fatigue exceptionally well,” Boyd said. “We’re not dying when it gets to the really challenging moments, and I love that about them.”
The Sun Devils got things going early in the game. In the 7th minute, midfielder Holland Crook took advantage of a mistake by Kansas defender Ali Kimura, and stole the ball on the left flank. Crook crossed it in to the penalty box, and Marshall headed it in from the back post.
Marshall said she’s able to be dominant in the air because she’s fearless.
“I’m not afraid of getting hit or getting hurt. I’ve had plenty of concussions, but I still have yet to have that fear in my head,” Marshall said. “Which may be a good thing or a bad thing, I haven’t quite figured it out.”
Despite out shooting Kansas 7-3 and having multiple scoring opportunities, the Sun Devils were unable to tack on a second goal.
That all changed in the second half, however, as the Sun Devils were able to get their offense going.
In the 50th minute, the Sun Devils were awarded a penalty kick after forward Sarah Tosti was fouled. Farquharson delivered as she put the ball past the left side of the net.
“No one wanted to step up and take the PK, and I was like ‘Cali you have to get your goal in this game,’” Marshall said. “Everyone was kind of looking around and nobody really wanted to step up. But, Cali got it done.”
Three minutes later, midfielder Blair Alderson scored with a shot from outside of the box. It was Alderson’s first goal of the season.
“Tommi [Goodman] slipped the ball back to me, and I turned [the defender] and shot,” Alderson said. “I was really excited.”
In the 77th minute, Crook found Marshall again inside the box. This time, Marshall received the ball, cut past a defender and blasted the ball past Kansas goal keeper Kaitlyn Stroud.
“Holland is very important. Her and I just seem to have this connection,” Marshall said. “She hits them great. I love her corners and free kicks.”
Next up, the Sun Devils will travel to Tucson next weekend to take on Texas Tech and Southern Utah.
“I have a lot of confidence in our team. I hope everyone is confident going into the Tucson tournament,” Marshall said.
You can reach Mauricio Casillas on Twitter @maucasillas94 or by email mauricio.casillas94@gmail.com.
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