The reconstruction of ASU soccer’s midfield will play a crucial role to improving their last place finish last season.
ASU soccer struggled last season to put goals on the board after the team was plagued with injuries at the beginning of the season. Losing vital offensive players like Aly Moon and Jazmarie Mader virtually dismantled the Sun Devils’ scoring ability.
The Sun Devils’ have a bit of tinkering to do within their midfield, with only, redshirt-sophomore Kylie Miniefield as the sole returning starter coming back to the team, and senior Madison Kmetko bringing in the most experience.
Head coach Graham Winkworth, who, along with the midfield, will be completely new to the program, after the resignation of ten year head coach Kevin Boyd.
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Winkworth, who, in his four years with South Alabama led the team to four NCAA post season appearances, and won four consecutive Sun Belt Conference Championships, needs create the same quick turnaround with the struggling ASU team.
Holes left by graduating seniors, like former attacking mid Lucy Lara, who, after the injuries of Aly Moon and Jazmarie Mader, became the catalyst for the entire offensive movement, will be largely difficult to fill considering her experience and her heavy contribution to the flow of the attacking line.
The loss of sophomore Olivia Hernandez, due to transfer, will also be detrimental to the development of the offense. Hernandez, who will step on the pitch for Mississippi State this upcoming season, recorded 2 assists in the 16 games she played, one of which was against Pac-12 poll favorite, Stanford.
Hernandez’s powerful ability to propel the Sun Devils’ attacking momentum, and create movement along the midfield, especially against strong teams like Stanford and Cal, will be difficult to fill, let alone recreate.
Like the defense, ASU will need to look at the new talent coming in to fill these roles.
ASU’s new signing of Brazilian Lara Barbieri will be the ideal candidate to start the rebuilding process. Barbieri, an experienced midfielder for Associação Atlética Ponte Preta in Brazil may be able to bring back some crucial experience to the midfield.
Barbieri’s ability to play the 6, 8 and 10 positions will be exceptionally helpful with trying to find her fit within the Sun Devils’ offense. In addition to her versatility, Barbieri’s tenacity to get on the ball and create plays will be essential to rewriting the script from last year’s low goal numbers.
Next: ASU Soccer: What's in store for the defensive line?
ASU will start their season against Ohio State this Friday in Tempe and we will just have to wait to see what Winkworth and the Sun Devils midfield come up with.