If it feels like every ASU soccer-related story has an injury update, that’s probably because most of them have.
At the rate ASU soccer players are currently getting injured, the team might be fortunate to field 11 players at the end of the season.
But the most recent injury suffered is the most serious. The other injured players on the team plan on returning to the field this season.
Freshman forward Alexandra Doller tore her ACL in her right knee during last Wednesday’s practice.
Typically, an ACL injury takes around six to seven months to recover from. Considering that the regular season ends in 38 days, Doller will more than likely not return to the field.
Doller leads the team with five goals in seven games played. Her injury is the latest for a team that was already injury-depleted, especially at the forward position.
Sophomore forward Devin Marshall (ankle) and redshirt sophomore forward Nicki Stone (knee) — both opening day starters — have been out since game four and game two respectively.
The other injured Sun Devils are sophomore defender Kaitlyn Pavlovich, who is nursing a back injury, and goalie Vittoria Arnold is still recovering from a concussion.
Tinnin back in action
Redshirt junior forward/midfielder Courtney Tinnin returned to the lineup after not playing in a regular season game since 2009.
She injured her knee in the spring of 2010 after a promising second season in which she scored four goals. It has been a long road to recovery for Tinnin, who last played in a regular season game over 22 months ago.
“It’s just going to take her some playing,” head coach Kevin Boyd said. “I mean she hasn’t played a season game in two years.”
Tinnin is still not 100 percent healthy, but her presence on the field gives the Sun Devils a boost.
“We played her for 20 minutes for each half (against California) and it was great to have her on the field,” Boyd said. “She definitely adds some composure, some skill and some knowledge on the ball, even at 60-70 percent. She was still a player that made a difference for us (in that game).”
Like some players with knee injuries, the injuries seem to be recurring. In 2008, Tinnin took a medical redshirt in for a knee injury suffered in the second game of the season.
With the injuries at the forward position, junior forward Sierra Cook and Tinnin will start. Midfielder Holland Crook will probably switch back over to forward for the time being.
Cook has three goals for the Sun Devils, while no one else on the team has scored more than once. Crook has not scored, but has taken 16 shots this season.
Tullock to be inducted
During the halftime of the ASU vs. Oregon State football game on Oct. 1, 10 former ASU athletes will be inducted into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame.
Among them is former player Stacey Tullock (1998-2000). Tullock is ASU’s all-time leader in goals (44), assists (19), game-winning goals (15), and points (107).
Tullock was a two-time All-American by Soccer Buzz and led the Pac-10 in scoring in 1998 and 1999.
Reach the reporter at justin.janssen@asu.edu Click here to subscribe to the daily State Press newsletter.
