ASU soccer knocks off Stephen F. Austin

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Cali Farquharson scored two goals and Devin Marshall had one to lead the Arizona State women’s soccer team to a 3-1 win over Stephen F. Austin on Sunday.

With the win, the Sun Devils (2-1) were able to come away with a split on their road trip to the state of Texas after starting out with a 3-1 loss at No. 19 Texas A&M on Friday night. The win also brought an end to Stephen F. Austin’s 23-game home unbeaten streak (23-0-0) that went back to the 2010 season.

Farquharson (10 goals in 2012) and Marshall (nine goals in 2012) were first and second on the team, respectively, in goals last season and came into the 2013 season as the Pac-12’s top returning duo in goals per game (1.06).

Farquharson, who scored a goal in each of ASU’s first two games of 2013, put the Sun Devils in the lead on Sunday with her third goal of the season in the 20th minute.

Although they had dominated the action for much of the game, the Devils still found themselves clinging to a one-goal lead in the 80th minute. It was at that point that Marshall, who came into the game 10th on ASU’s all-time list in both career goals and points, would put an end to any potential comeback by the Ladyjacks. Marshall took a pass from teammate Lucy Lara, outmaneuvered her defender and fired a shot past goalkeeper Morgan Glick to extend ASU’s lead to 2-0.

According to Sun Devil head coach Kevin Boyd, it was only a matter of time before Marshall stuck one in.

“Right before she scored I told Devin, ‘Go find your goal,’ and I knew that she was tired, because she had one coming, and within a minute she got that goal and so it was good for her,” said Boyd.

Farquharson added her second goal of the game in 86th minute to put the Devils ahead 3-0. With two goals on Sunday, Farquharson, who has scored at least one goal in seven of ASU’s last eight games, including the last six going back to last season, has now scored multiple goals in a game three times in her career.

“Cali got one in the first half and could have had a second (in the first half), but she put it a little wide of the post,” said Boyd. “Her last goal of the game removed any doubt about what the outcome would be.”

Up by three goals with less than five minutes left, the biggest question that remained for the Sun Devils was whether or not they’d be able to post their second shutout of the season. They would come up 23 seconds short, as Ladyjack junior forward Zuri Prince scored an unassisted goal from 25 yards out to get Stephen F. Austin on the board.

“We should have had a shutout, which makes me a little unhappy, but at the same time, good for them that they kept fighting until the final seconds,” said Boyd. “We are happy to get a win on the road and that our offense came alive in the second half.”

The Sun Devils (2-1) return to action on Friday when they host Illinois at 7 p.m. on the first day of the 2013 Sun Devil Classic.