TEMPE – A new era for Sun Devil Athletics begins on Thursday when Sun Devil Soccer opens the 2024 campaign by hosting Northern Arizona at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. The first official game for any ASU program as members of the Big 12 is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
ASU is coming off a 10-7-4 season in 2023 that saw them advance to a second straight NCAA National Championship. The Sun Devils compiled a 6-1-3 record at home last season and they are unbeaten in their previous nine non-conference home games dating back to the 2021 season.
Enasia Colon returns in 2024 after leading the Sun Devil with nine goals and 22 points last season. ASU also brings back Keri Matthews after she tied for the team lead with six assists while placing second with 12 points and 30 shots. Pauline Nelles returns to her spot in goal after setting the program record with nine shutouts last season.
WATCH: ESPN+ will carry 11 Sun Devil home games and every Big 12 road game. ESPN+ is available via the ESPN App, ESPN.com or espnplus.com. Subscribers can watch it via most major mobile and connected TV platforms, including iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, Android devices, Roku, and Chromecast.
SERIES NOTES: ASU is 11-1 all-time against the Lumberjacks, including a 5-1 mark at home. The Sun Devils have won eight straight in the series, and they won the previous meeting with a score of 1-0 in Flagstaff on September 14, 2018.
ABOUT NAU: Northern Arizona went 11-6-3 overall and finished fourth in the Big Sky with a 4-3-1 mark in conference play. The Lumberjacks advanced to the championship game of the Big Sky Tournament. The 2024 team returns three players who started in that title game.
Avery Ott led all NAU returners with five points on two goals and one assist last season. Goalkeeper Trinity Corcoran returns, having posted a 0.80 GAA and .857 save percentage in 19 games played last season.
EXPERIENCED ROSTER: This 2024 Sun Devil squad returns 20 players from last year’s tournament team. That group includes 16 players who appeared in the NCAA Tournament game at Santa Clara, along with nine regular starters, four of the top five point leaders, and the starting keeper.
The 29 players on the squad have played a combined total of 671 games and scored 159 points. The 21 returners accounted for 72 percent of the team’s points and 80 percent of the minutes played.
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