(Tempe, AZ) Sun Devil soccer is coming off their second NCAA tournament appearance in the last three seasons after going 9-6-3. Head coach Graham Winkworth enters his seventh season at the helm after defeating Pac-12 foes Arizona, Oregon, California, and Colorado in 2022 to secure a spot in the postseason. In the last three years, Winkworth and the Sun Devils have posted three straight seasons with nine wins or more with a cumulative record of 28-20-7.
“I am looking forward to this season with a new squad,” Winkworth said. “We have been working hard during preseason and I am excited for Sun Devil soccer supporters to see the group we have.”
The Sun Devils enter this season with a talented mix of players primed to contribute on the pitch, with 16 returners and 15 new faces on the team, including three transfers primed to make an impact.
KERI ONWARD
Keri Matthews enters her junior season leading the returners with three goals and two assists last season, appearing in 18 games and being an essential contributor to ASU’s front line. She’s appeared in 29 games for the maroon and gold entering 2023.
ENASIA THE GREAT
Coming off a successful freshman season, Enasia Colon appeared in all 18 matches. Starting in seven of them for the Sun Devils in the midfield making a difference offensively for the team, being one of six players who scored multiple goals. She finished tied for second on the team with five assists and competed for Puerto Rico in the U20 CONCACAF Championship.
DEFENSIVE DUO
Lieske Carleer returns to the back line for the Sun Devils as a fifth-year after starting in 63 of 64 matches in her career and brings veteran leadership with Lucy Johnson who started in 12 of 13 matches last season, and a force with Carleer last season. She managed to score the season’s most important goal against Arizona with a game-winner in the 79th minute. Johnson was versatile on the offensive end with a team-leading eight assists last season while being a strong 1v1 defender throughout her career.
TRANSFERS
Joining the Sun Devils are a trio of transfers, Suzuka Yosue, Florence Vaillancourt and Hannah Lapeire brings experience in the midfield and the final third. Suzuka comes from The Citadel after playing 72 games and netting 26 goals, while setting school records with 34 assists and totaling 86 points with the Bulldogs.
Vailancourt comes from Syracuse and is looking to make an impact, she netted a game-winning goal last season and spent three seasons prior with Niagara University appearing in 36 games, earning 13 goals and 10 assists alone in the 2021 season to earn MAAC Offensive Player of the year honors.
Lapeire joins the Sun Devils after three seasons with Purdue, playing in 32 matches over the three seasons bringing more depth and experience to the midfield.
FORWARDS
With Keri Matthews and Enasia Colon, enters senior Gabi Rennie, who is coming off a World Cup campaign with New Zealand boasts 35 games of experience at the collegiate level and was a part of New Zealand’s 2020 Olympic team, netting a goal against Australia. Hannah Leitner joins the experienced front line as a senior after playing 13 matches last season with a goal and two assists in 2022. Mia Lanni splits time in the midfield and the forward position for ASU and appeared in four games last season.
With the five returners on the front line, the maroon and gold add Lisette Gregoris, Ella Opkvitne, Eva Allen, Savannah Maley, Ashley Leonhart and Edie Priest to the team, the first-year group spans four different countries. Priest comes from London and was a member of Chelsea FC and captained the U18 WSLA team where she scored 10 goals and 15 assists of the girls U18 team earlier this year.
MIDFIELDERS
Coming back for the Sun Devils features Colon alongside Brianna Nunley who redshirted last season and Lapeire from Purdue. Colon and Lapeire bring experience to the midfield while Nunley appeared in one game last season. Between Colon and Lapeiere, both combine for 50 matches of experience entering the season.
Joining the midfield is Opkvitne who’ll split time between forward and in the mid-field, and Tempe native Dahlia Welter. Similar to Opkvitne, Ashley Leonhart will split time between the front line and the mid-field throughout the season.
DEFENDERS
Returning with Johnson and Carleer is a group of six defenders giving the Sun Devils depth on the defense. Joining Johnson and Carleer is Olivia Coleman, Andrea Kraetzer, Ava Wright, Meighan Farrell, Mya Wheeler and Lauren Kirberg. Kraetzer comes off a successful freshman campaign appearing in all 18 matches and starting in 16 last year and played all 90 minutes 12 times last season on the back-line.
Coleman made her debut halfway through the 2022 season and logged action against Washington State in a victory. Wright was one of five freshmen last season who played in 10 or more matches and was a prominent starter on the defense. She scored a goal last season and was reliable after logging 80 minutes or more in five games she appeared in.
GOALKEEPERS
The quartet of keepers features Pauline Nelles, Birta Gudlaugsdottir, Kayla Letcher and freshman Olivia Herrera. Nelles started in 17 matches for the Sun Devils with three clean sheets last season and was named to the All-Pac-12 Freshman team for going 9-6-1 for the Sun Devils. Birta appeared in three games and started one in net for ASU, making 11 saves in her three appearances.
Herrera comes from Long Beach and competed for the U17 Mexico National team at the 2022 Revelations Cup. She earned first-team recognition while playing at Woodrow Wilson High School and was named goalkeeper and player of the year twice, bringing more depth to the goalkeeping unit.
The 2023-24 Sun Devil athletic season kicks-off August 17 with the Maroon & Gold’s season opener against Wright State at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m. MST. Follow Sun Devil Soccer on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest updates this 2023 season.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Zach Wargo
Click on Logo
