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By Kristen Davis
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 15, 1996
A new spin will be put on an old tradition tonight.The Arizona soccer team (5-8 overall, 0-4 in the Pacific 10 Conference) will meet rival Arizona State in Division I-level competition for the first time, joining the 19 other UA Division I teams that play the Sun Devils each season.
"This is the start of a year-to-year battle with them," UA head coach Lisa Fraser said. "We are going to want to win and set the tone right now."
The Sun Devils (2-7-1) are in their first year as a varsity program and have opted not to participate in Pac-10 play this season.
Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Wildcat Soccer Field, at 15th Street and Plumer Avenue.
Arizona State has a four-game losing streak. Its last game was a 2-0 loss to New Mexico Oct. 6.
"Being a first-year program is tough," Fraser said. "We have to be wary because they've had a tough season and want to get a win."
Arizona State is led by defender Marianne Simmons, the Sun Devils' top scorer with three goals.
The Wildcats split their two games last weekend with a 4-0 loss to No. 16 California on Friday and a 1-0 victory over St. Mary's on Sunday.
"We didn't play well Friday and we came out and played really well Sunday," Fraser said.
"We need to be a little more consistent and start playing better tonight and on Friday (against Southern California)."
Injuries are still depleting the Wildcats' lineup. Senior goalkeeper Jen Weibel remains on the bench with a torn ligament in her left knee and sophomore defender Kate Mattson is recovering from a hyper-extended knee. Mattson's status for tonight's game has not yet been determined.
"It's one of those traditions and big rivalries that is going to start this year," senior forward and co-captain Christine Keeley said.
"We want to go out and we want to win big."
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