The ASU soccer team might have gotten a little homesick last week when it traveled to Hanover, N.H., and posted a 0-1-1 record at the adidas/ Hypertherm Classic.
The remedy could come tonight against the University of California, Santa Barbara, as the Sun Devils play the first match of a five-game homestand.
"It's a huge thing to get comfortable on your field and make the advantage your own," ASU coach Ray Leone said. "We believe we have the best field in the Pac-10 so we better make use of it."
The Sun Devils have accumulated a 2-1-0 record at home this season.
"We were out-competed on Sunday," Leone said regarding ASU's 2-1 loss to Dartmouth. "We have to compete the way our team expects to compete, and that's at the highest level."
Senior forward Liz Bogus said that getting back into the win column would depend on the Sun Devils ability to control the ball.
"It's really important for us to match their physicality and win [loose] balls so we can get possession," Bogus said.
The University of California, Santa Barbara (5-3-0), comes to Tempe on a four-game winning streak. One of those victories came against Villanova, who played to a draw against ASU last Friday.
One of the Gauchos' key players is junior forward Allie Kueny, who leads the team in shots with 19.
"They are very athletic and they have a big-time forward at the top who's torching a lot of teams," Leone said. "They flat-out killed us last year, and there's no two ways about it."
Joining the Sun Devils this weekend will be U.S. Women's National Team forward Abby Wambach.
Wambach will serve as a guest coach on the sideline during the match.
"The best forward in the world is coming here, so were going to try and score some goals so she can enjoy it," Leone said. "She is an amazing player and we really appreciate her coming."
Reach the reporter at thomas.j.kelley@asu.edu.
