Sun Devils are currently ranked 22nd in Nation
Verrado graduate and Arizona
State freshman Adriana Orozco made her first regular season appearance wearing
the maroon and gold in ASU women’s soccer’s first game of the season against
Portland State on Friday.
Arizona State won by a score of 3-0. The game was played in front of 766
fans at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
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| Adriana Orozco |
Orozco made her appearance during the game’s 62nd minute when she came
as a substitute for Tommi Goodman. She was active from the start playing in the
midfield position and worked to drift into space near the top of the 18-yard
box.
Orozco had one shot on goal during the game. It came in the game’s 78th
minute as she fired a shot goal ward from near the penalty spot. Portland State
goalkeeper Angela Haluska made the save.
Arizona State’s goals all came before Orozco made her way to the field.
Cali Farquharson started the
scoring during the games 6th minute, Larisa Staub quickly followed with a goal during the 17th minute and Aly Moon
scored six minutes into the second half.
Orozco also appeared in two exhibition games for the Sun Devils. She
played in a pre-season game against Northern Arizona University in Prescott
Valley last week. She also played in ASU’s exhibition game against Beijing
Normal University played in Tempe on Sunday. She registered 38 minutes of
playing time in that game which ended in a scoreless draw.
Following the Portland State game Orozco spent time discussing her
experience with Arizona State soccer and playing in her first regular season
game.
“It feels amazing,” Orozco said. “I’ve been so excited ever since I
committed to be here my Junior year.”
Orozco's eventual appearance on the pitch for Arizona State was not
without its challenges. She was
sidelined for a good part of her Verrado soccer playing career by injuries to
both anterior cruciate ligaments.
A part of the Verrado state championship team in 2013, Orozco had to
watch much of the season and the title game from the bench.
“I had two knee surgeries. I tore both my ACLs so I’ve always been so
concerned about that, “ Orozco said. “I’ve learned to put it away and come
back.”
Regarding her first appearance Orozco said she “was super nervous when I
came in. As soon as I got a little bit of my jitters out I was fine. I felt really happy.”
Orozco’s first attempt to score came on a header redirected toward goal
from distance. The trajectory was a little high and the ball fell harmlessly to
the Vikings’ Haluska and she was not credited as shot.
Orozco’s second attempt came after she skillfully dribbled through two
Portland State defenders and took a shot from about 15 yards. The attempt posed little threat to the
Vikings’ Haluska.
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| Adriana Orozco (6) dribbles through two Portland State defenders en route to her first shot on goal as a Sun Devil. |
“I probably could have shot the
second a little wider,” Orozco said. “I
felt great about it either way just to get something on frame.”
Orozco is looking forward to the rest of the season and her career as
ASU now that the first-game jitters are gone.
“I love them so much,” Orozco said of her teammates after the game. “I think there’s a lot of great things
building up for us.
“The team is great. We all support each other and give 110% all the time
at practice and our games.
“I have no doubt we’re going to have a good season.”
Arizona State women’s soccer is ranked number 22 nationally following
the first week of the season.
The Sun Devils play their next five games at home. See TheSunDevils.com for more information.
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| Adriana Orozco and her Arizona State teammates acknowledge the Sun Devils' soccer supporters following the game. |
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