ASU women's soccer bounced back with a 4-0 victory over Weber State University in its last preseason home match before the start of Pac-12 conference play.
ASU out shot Weber State 31-6 with 14 shots on goal, compared to just two from the Wild Cats.
ASU freshman goalkeeper Nikki Panas ended the game with two saves and earned her second collegiate career shutout.
ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said he thought the team played well in both halves, but also that the second half was the key to the game.
“In the first half we hit the target five times in our 14 shots, and in our 17 shots in the second half, we hit the target 10 or 12 times,” Winkworth said. “You don't score unless you put the ball on the target and today we did that, I was pleased.”
The Sun Devils dominated possession from start to finish and were the aggressors throughout the match.
Despite ending the first half scoreless, the Sun Devils remained patient yet wasted no time in the second half when junior center back Angela Boyle scored her second goal of the season off a corner kick from junior defender/forward Jemma Purfield.
“Ultimately I am going to push through anybody in my way and that’s just kind of my mindset,” Boyle said on her mentality when scoring goals off corners.
Winkworth praised the players for their patience despite being unable to find the back of the net with so much more possession than the Wild Cats.
“When we move the ball around so well and patiently in the first half, legs (Weber State fitness) start to go … and the game starts opening up,” Winkworth said.
ASU’s patience paid off and broke open the game with three goals in the last 15 minutes to put away Weber State.
The Sun Devils doubled their lead with an excellent strike to the far post, upper corner from sophomore midfielder Devyn Kelsey in the 76th minute.
“I’ve been waiting to score, so it felt really good,” Kelsey said.
Kelsey continued her superb play with an assist in the 78th minute to the far post.
Kelsey explained that the reason for her success against the Wild Cats was a result of the Sun Devils’ numerical advantage in the midfield.
“I found myself able to find the ball easier,” Kelsey said.
The Sun Devils' final goal came in the 80th minute when junior forward Natalie Stephens went on a solo run up the right side line and sent in a pin point cross to the head of freshman forward Olive Jones, who calmly headed back across into the back of the net.
ASU will face Oregon State University in the first game of the Pac-12 conference Sept. 22 in Tempe at 7 p.m. MST.
Reach the reporter at jaramo12@asu.edu or follow @hor_hay10 on Twitter.
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepresssport on Twitter.
