ASU and NAU scramble for a loose ball in a scrimmage on Aug. 15 at West Campus. (Photo by Emily Johnson)After a strong weekend going 2-0 in the Sun Devil Classic, ASU (4-1-1) will be going on a short road trip to Tucson, where they will play New Mexico State and Nevada in the Cats Classic, hosted by their long time rivals: Arizona.
“I feel good,” Boyd said. “We took a little time off. The first 3 weeks were grueling.”
The team has played in six games so far in Hawaii and Illisnois along with two games in Tempe last
Junior defender McKenzie Berryhill did not play in the Sun Devil Classic due to an injury, however, Boyd said he is not extremely worried, although he made it clear that she would not be part of the starting lineup.
“She’s doing better,” Boyd said. “I don’t know yet, but I’m sure she will play this weekend.”
In light of Berryhills absence from the starting lineup, sophomore defender Mckenzie Grossman started in the tournament and would go on to be named Pac-12 Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.
Teammate junior forward Sara Tosti also received honors, as she was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s National Team of the Week.
“I thought it was well earned; I’m really happy both got awarded,” Boyd said. “I thought it was very difficult to single out one or the other. It really was their partnership that allowed us to be successful.”
Despite the individual recognition, Boyd stressed that these honors only were given out because of the way the team played.
“We really try and focus on the fact that these honors are team honors,” Boyd said. “They wouldn’t have gotten their honors if we didn’t win this weekend.”
The Sun Devils will be facing both New Mexico State and Nevada this upcoming weekend.
The Sun Devils have never played New Mexico State during the regular season.
“We only see them in the spring,” said Boyd. “A little bit.”
However, the Sun Devils have an advantage, as their current assistant coach Blair Quinn was an assistant coach for New Mexico State from 2011-2013. This inside knowledge of how the Aggies will play could be huge for the Sun Devils.
New Mexico State is coming into this tournament with a less than respectable 1-6 record. Last season, the Aggies top goal scorer was forward Layla Todd who is now a senior. She recorded five goals a year ago but only has one in seven games in 2014.
Senior forward Jennae Cambra was New Mexico State's second leading goal scorer with four last season and in seven games this year, Cambra has already matched that.
If the Sun Devils want to win, they should look to shut down Cambra, as she is a major part of the offense for New Mexico State.
Defense has been a point of emphasis early on in the season for Boyd, but he said thinks the team is doing much better in this aspect of the game.
“We are not a completed product,” Boyd said. “We are developing nicely. I like the way we defended this last weekend. We are still focusing on what we are doing with the ball. As a whole we are doing very well. Each player is playing better.”
Last weekend, both games that the Sun Devils played were decided in the second half. Although Boyd is happy they got the wins, he wants to be a threat right from the start this weekend
“It’s great we can call ourselves a second half team,” Boyd said. “But I told the team I want to be a first and second half team.”
ASU plays New Mexico State at 4:30 p.m. on Friday Sept. 12 in Tucson, followed by Nevada at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday Sept. 14.
Reach the reporter at mtsteine@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @MarcTSteiner
