Soccer edges NAU in season opener
<p><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/stats/2010-2011/nau-asu.ht… Stats</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SunDevilSoccer#%21/album.php?aid=196835&id=… Gallery</a></p><separator></separator><p><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/volpe_karin00.html">Ka… Volpe's</a> 20th career goal with 1:06 remaining proved to be the game winner as the Arizona State women's soccer team held off a determined Northern Arizona squad 4-3 on Friday in the season opener for both teams.</p><separator></separator><p>Volpe's goal capped off a frenetic second half of play as the Sun Devils saw leads of 2-0 and 3-2 slip away before finding a way to secure the win.</p><separator></separator><p>"We found a way to win which is nice and there is no place to go but up," ASU head coach <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/boyd_kevin00.html">Kev… Boyd</a> said following the game. "We did not play very well. Give credit to NAU. They came out in the second half a whole different team and put us under tremendous pressure. Us not playing well helped them. It's great that we responded, but we have to take over a game."</p><separator></separator><p>Given that the Sun Devils (1-0) had defeated NAU (0-1) by a combined score of 8-2 the last two seasons, there appeared little doubt that ASU wouldn't continue their winning trend after taking a 2-0 halftime lead on Friday. Redshirt sophomore forward <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/cook_sierra00.html">Si… Cook</a> (shot from 20 yards, 18:00) and redshirt freshman forward <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/mollay_miah00.html">Mi… Mollay</a> (open shot from top of the box, 31:47) were responsible for ASU's goals in the opening 45 minutes, a half in which the Sun Devils outshot NAU 9-1.</p><separator></separator><p>The Lumberjacks would tie the game within the first 12 minutes of the second half as senior defender Kristi Andreassen (free kick from 45 yards, 50:07) and junior forward Jenna Samora (shot from 20 yards off crossbar and right post, 56:28) ignited NAU's rally.</p><separator></separator><p>The Sun Devils would reclaim the lead in the 64th minute when freshman forward <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/marshall_devin00.html"… Marshall</a> took a pass from senior <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/shoquist_jill00.html">… Shoquist</a>, went left and slipped a perfectly-placed shot between three defenders and passed the goalkeeper into the opposite post.</p><separator></separator><p>ASU's lead would last fewer than three minutes as NAU tied the game at 3-3 when junior midfielder Ashley Marrapode rebounded a shot by teammate Sam Monahan into the net.</p><separator></separator><p>Following Marrapode's goal neither team was able to find the back of the net over the next 22-plus minutes. After going to overtime 10 times last season it appeared that ASU was headed there again until Volpe tipped a shot deflected by <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt/elston_alexandra00.htm… Elston</a> into the net for the game winner, the 10th game-winning goal of her career.</p><separator></separator><p>The Sun Devils return to action on Sunday, August 29 when they take on Baylor in their 2010 home opener. Game time is 1 p.m. at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.</p>