Devin Marshall Named Pac-12 Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State University senior forward Devin Marshall was named the Pac-12 Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, according to an announcement by Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott on Tuesday.
Marshall earned the award for her performance in ASU’s 1-0 win over USC on Sunday in which she scored the game-winning goal with 19 seconds remaining in regulation. After being shaken up and forced to leave the field in the second half, Marshall would return to deliver her third game-winning goal of the season.
The sequence that led to Marshall’s last-minute heroics started when sophomore forward Sara Tosti spotted Marshall breaking open behind USC’s defense. Marshall’s only touch on the ball was a flick that sent the ball past USC goalkeeper Caroline Stanley, who was charging toward Marshall in an attempt to thwart her shot.
“I didn’t even know there were only 20 seconds on the clock,” said Marshall after the game. “I just saw Tosti with the ball, and there were maybe two defenders in front of her. My thought was just to widen out as much as possible. I was just screaming for it because I knew that if she hit it over that I would be in behind them. Tosti played a brilliant ball in behind, and the keeper decided to come out. I was able to just hit it in, open frame.”
“Tosti played a real nice ball in through to Devin, who just flicked it by the keeper,” said ASU head coach Kevin Boyd of Marshall’s goal after the game. “Devin is really good in those moments. She is a good finisher, especially when she’s coming in on one-on-ones. I felt as soon as she got loose, ‘This is a goal.’ And it was well earned.”
Tuesday’s announcement represents the second time this season that Marshall has earned Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week recognition. On Sept. 10 she earned the award after recording four goals and one assist in ASU’s wins over Illinois (scored two goals and assisted on game winning goal) on Sept. 6 and Kansas (scored two goals) on Sept. 8.
Currently in eighth place on ASU’s all-time list with 22 career goals, Marshall needs one more to tie Antoinette Marjanovic (1997, 99-01) for seventh place. With Sunday’s game-winner over USC, Marshall is now tied for sixth place on ASU’s all-time list with seven career game-winning goals.
This weekend the Sun Devils (6-3, 1-0 Pac-12) begin a stretch of five straight games on the road. Their first two assignments will be in the Bay Area for contests against No. 11 Cal (Friday at 2 p.m. PT) and No. 2 Stanford (Sunday at 5:30 p.m. PT). Both of this weekend’s contests will be televised live by Pac-12 Networks.