Cook leads ASU women's soccer win over Weber State

Sierra Cook had two goals and one assist as the ASU women's soccer team defeated Weber State 4-0 on Sunday afternoon. With the win the Sun Devils improved to 2-2-1 while Weber State slipped to 1-3-1.

Cook, a freshman from Silverdale, Wash., ignited the ASU offense in the second half as the Sun Devils scored all four of their goals in the final 40 minutes of the game. Sophomore Karin Volpe and redshirt freshman Erica Long would also tally goals for ASU.

"I'm not taking anything away from Weber State, but I thought we were a better team," said ASU head coach Kevin Boyd. "This game allowed us to give our younger players a little bit of experience and that will help us down the road. And then Sierra getting a pair of goals - we have been waiting for that to come out. She's a goal scorer."

Coming off a 1-0 loss to TCU on Friday, the Sun Devils remained unable to get on the scoreboard in the first half despite getting off nine shots to only three for the Wildcats.

"The truth is, we didn't play badly in the first half," said Boyd. "We were doing what we needed to do to be competitive. [At the half] I told them that we needed to work on keeping the ball and being more creative."

The Sun Devils would continue to apply pressure on Weber State goalkeeper Rebecca Ritchie in the second half and it would finally pay off in the 51st minute when Cook dribbled along the left penalty area, made a move on a Wildcat defender and fired a shot passed the reach of Ritchie to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead.

In the 62nd minute, following a throw-in by sophomore Jill Shoquist, sophomore Alexandra Elston and Volpe would set up Cook for her second goal of the game, giving ASU a 2-0 lead.

Volpe would benefit from more ASU teamwork in the 71st minute when Shoquist and Elston set her up for her team leading fourth goal of the season to extend ASU's advantage to 3-0.

ASU would complete its four-goal outburst in the 79th minute when Cook found Long with a pass in open space. Long would take advantage of the one-on-one situation with Ritchie by drilling a shot inside the far left post.

ASU's defensive effort limited Weber State to only seven shots. Junior goalkeeper Briana Silvestri made a pair of saves in the win.

ASU returns to action on Friday when it goes on the road to face Baylor (7 p.m. CT). The Sun Devils will then complete their trip to the Lone Star State next Sunday when they face No. 8 Texas (1 p.m. CT).