Soccer opens 2014-15 ASU athletic year Friday vs. Texas in Hawaii tournament

Soccer again kicks off the Arizona State athletic year, facing Texas on Friday at the Outrigger Resorts Shootout in Honolulu, then host Hawaii on Sunday.

ASU volleyball also opens in Hawaii on Aug. 29-31 with matches against San Diego State, Hawaii and Ohio.

Soccer returns some key players -- forward Cali Farquharson, midfielders Lucy Lara and Tommi Goodman, defender McKenzie Berryhill, goalkeeper Chandler Morris -- but also is integrating eight freshmen while trying to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out in 2013.

Because of that youth, Pac-12 coaches pick ASU to finish tied for eighth. Kevin Boyd, going into his eighth season (63-60-16 record) has loftier goals and was encouraged by how the Sun Devils played last week in a scrimmage against Northern Arizona.

"We played well in terms of the way we moved the ball," Boyd said. "Our positioning was good. A lot of the pieces we were trying to teach the younger players, they actively did, which is a great sign. Every player played hard and battled. That's one of our themes, compete every moment."

Freshman forward Jazmarie Mader scored a goal as did returners Berryhill (or Whitney Kanavel, there is some debate between them), defender Larisa Staub and forward/defender Sara Tosti. The versatile Tosti, a junior, is starting the season on defense where she played as as a freshman until frosh defender Taylor Coon is ready to start next to Berryhill at center back.

"The hard thing about goalkeeper and center back is you make a mistake and it's costly," Boyd said. "That's generally why you have very experienced people there."

To that point, Boyd is sticking with junior Morris, a two-year starter, at keeper over freshman Lexi Bounds and redshirt freshman Ashley March. "She's sounder positionally and with her hands," Boyd said. "Ashley has made very good strides in one year, and Lexi is good. Both of them every week will get closer and closer to Chandler so she is going to have some competition."

The freshmen who will play, in addition to Mader, include Aly Moon, a midfielder/forward from Brea, Calif. At 5-1, she is similar in stature to Taylor McCarter (2009-12), who at 5-2 made All Pac-12 three times as a defensive mid. Moon is an attacking mid.

"I'd be thrilled if she turns out like Taylor," Boyd said. "To be quite honest, she's not that far off it. She played exceptionally well (against NAU). She's technical, handles the ball and has a really good mind for the game. She moves off teammates extremely well for an incoming freshman."

Moon was in the Olympic Development Program from 2008-12, helped her Legends club team win the 2013 Surf Cup and was captain, most valuable player and all league first team for three seasons at Brea Olinda High School. She had 10 goals and 10 assists as a prep senior.

"It's been a little overwhelming at first just getting used to everything," Moon said. "But the team has got a really good dynamic and the upperclassmen incorporate us into everything and they help out a lot. It's been nice having them guide us through everything. I'm excited to start college soccer and get the opportunity to play at such a high level."

Moon said her height can be taken as a weakness, but "I actually enjoy it. People maybe underestimate me and that allows me to do even better than they would expect. I do want to excel in those other areas that I can control."

ASU was 9-8-2 in 2013 including a split with the Oregon schools. Texas lost to Oregon and Oregon State in a 12-6-2 season and did not make the postseason. The Longhorns are picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 with goalie Abby Smith and midfielder Sharis Lachappelle on the preseason All-Big 12 team.

Hawaii is coming off an 8-8-1 season and picked to finish fifth in the Big West. The Rainbow Wahine will be playing their first match against ASU then face Texas on Monday.