Soccer Hosts Annual Sun Devil Classic, Opens Against Boise State

By: Birgen Grueskin, Media Relations Intern

Tempe – Sun Devil Soccer (3-0-1) returns home this week to host the Sun Devil Classic which kicks off with a matchup between the Arizona State and Boise State on Thursday, August 31 at 10 a.m. MST on Pac-12 Insider. The Sun Devils face Kent State on Sunday, Sept. 3 on Pac-12 Arizona at 10 a.m. to conclude the weekend.

"I am really excited about this weekend, it's always great to go on the road and play new teams, but we are delighted to be back at home," head coach Graham Winkworth said. "We are expecting two very good opponents, so we are ready to take our game to the next level."

ASU is led by Pac-12 leading scorer, Enasia Colon, who has collected four goals and one assist in the first two weeks of the season. Graduate transfer Suzuka Yosue has collected four assists which sits her atop of the Pac-12 standings. Yosue actively leads the nation with 38 career assists.

In net, Pauline Nelles is tied for first in three Pac-12 categories: save percentage (.933), goals against (1) and goals against average (.25).

The Maroon and Gold extended their unbeaten streak in non-conference play to ten games after defeating New Mexico State and UTEP on the road. 

Colon tallied two goals against the Aggies while freshmen Savannah Maley and Ella Opkvitne recorded their first collegiate goals in the team's 4-1 comeback victory. 

Yosue scored off a rebound shot versus UTEP while Gabi Rennie was fed by Maley and Lieske Carleer for the second goal of the game.

Boise State (1-1-1) is coming off a 4-1 loss to BYU with their lone goal coming from Michaela Justiniani off of a cross. The series between the Broncos and Sun Devils is tied 1-1.

Kent State (2-1-1) recorded a 2-0 win in their last match against Cleveland State. The Golden Flashes opened the scoring in the sixth minute of the match when Siena Stambolich curled her shot into the top right corner of the net. Alanna Raimondo doubled the lead when a mishandled ball by the goalkeeper fell to her feet in the 53rd minute. Sunday's game will be the first recorded match-up between ASU and Kent State.

Sun Devil Classic Schedule
Thursday, August 31
Boise State vs. Arizona State - 10 a.m. MST on Pac-12 Insider
Kent State vs. Arizona - 1 p.m. MST on Pac-12 Insider

Sunday, September 3
Kent State vs. Arizona State - 10 a.m. MST on Pac-12 Arizona
Arizona vs. Boise State - 1 p.m. MST

Find the statbroadcast for all games here.