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CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat
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Arizona sophomore midfielder Courtney Moseley attempts to dribble around a defender earlier this season. The Wildcats play host to ASU at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
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By Amanda Branam
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Friday October 17, 2003
Tucson will get a little hotter tomorrow night after the sun goes down, as the UA soccer team plays host to in-state rival Arizona State in the team's only action of the weekend.
The No. 24 Sun Devils (8-2-2 overall, 2-0-0 Pacific 10 Conference) travel south on Interstate 10 to face the Wildcats (4-7-1, 0-2-0) at Murphey Stadium. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m.
Sophomore midfielder Jennifer Klein is looking forward to this one more than most games, but said that every game is addressed the same when it comes to preparation.
"This is just like every week," Klein said. "We've gone out hard all practice to make it as game-like as possible."
Arizona and ASU had opposite results last weekend versus Bay Area teams Stanford and No. 21 California. Arizona lost to the Cardinal, 3-2, and was shut out by the Golden Bears, 3-0. ASU swept Stanford and Cal, 1-0 and 3-2, respectively, in Phoenix.
"ASU has very good team speed, attacks well, and scores a lot of goals," said first-year UA head coach Dan Tobias. "In this conference, your margin of error is thin and none. It's a game of minimizing your own mistakes and capitalizing on your opponents'."
Arizona vs. ASU
Who: Arizona Wildcats vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
When: Tomorrow, 7 p.m.
Where: Murphey Stadium
Cost: Free
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Tobias said his team played well last weekend despite the outcome of the games, but said defensive mistakes and failing to convert scoring chances hurt them. He is hoping that the Cats can minimize those mistakes and maximize the scoring opportunities tomorrow.
"I have learned that, regardless of the team (we're playing), we create high-quality scoring chances," Tobias said.
Klein was positive about last weekend as well, and believes the games against California and Stanford will only help them against the Sun Devils.
"We played great. The biggest thing is, it was a learning experience for us," she said.
Arizona is looking to break old habits and beat ASU, who have a perfect 8-0 all-time record against the Wildcats.
The Wildcats might have what it takes to break that streak this season. Junior forward Candice Wilks leads the team with six goals and one assist on the season, and sophomore midfielder Mallory Miller is right behind with five goals and two assists. Miller leads the team in shots with 38 ÷ 17 of them on net.
"We have to be hungry to score some goals," Klein said. "We've got to have that hunger to put it in the back of the net."