TEMPE, Ariz. – As graduate midfielder Peyton Marcisz’s shot hit the back of the net in the 20th minute, Marcisz further pushed the momentum of the match in the favor of Arizona State and showed the impact the seniors have on their squad.

This goal made the score 2-0, coming after senior midfielder Emmie Ennis gave ASU the lead less than two minutes earlier. These first two goals both came from players honored in the Sun Devils’ senior night festivities. 

The Sun Devils' dominance did not fade, and ASU (5-1-2) ran away with an 8-0 win over Grambling State (1-5-1) on their senior night Friday, Sept. 11, at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.

Head coach Graham Winkworth honored his seniors and conveyed his belief in their ability to lead the team the rest of the season.

“Some of them have been here four years; some of them have been here one, and we’re grateful for them all,” Winkworth said. “They’ve bonded together. You can see the culture and the spirit that we have amongst this group, and that’s led by the senior class.”

The seniors also led the team in goals, scoring five of the eight total for the Sun Devils. Both Ennis and Marcisz scored two goals, and senior defender Lucy Fazackerly had a goal of her own.

Marcisz’s two goals, her first goals of the season, marked her first brace of her college career, something that brought her excitement and joy during her senior night.

“It’s also special because it’s senior night,” Marcisz said. “It’s kind of a full-circle moment.”

On top of the seniors, the entire ASU squad exploded offensely in the match. The team combined for 40 shots with 20 of those on goal, a stat Winkworth expressed pride in.

“If we do that the rest of the season, we give ourselves a good chance,” Winkworth said.

The other three goals all came from juniors: forwards Sierra Bergen and Kierra Blundell and midfielder Ella Kettles. Bergen took the most shots of any Sun Devil with eight.

Grambling State’s offensive performance paled in comparison to the Sun Devils’, as the Tigers only recorded five shots with two of those on goal. All of those shots came in the second half.

The way Grambling State played in the match was heavy on defense, Winkworth said. This allowed his squad to shine more on the offensive side of the ball and stay in control of the game.

“We didn’t really have to defend,” Winkworth said. “It was offense against defense.”

One of the players who benefited from ASU’s offensive play style in the match was Ennis, who recorded two goals on four shots, three of those being on goal.

“I think it’s just fun to show out and keep the ball,” Ennis said. “We were telling each other to just keep the ball, make them run, and we think we did that.”

ASU soccer alumnae in attendance made the night even more special for the Sun Devils, Marcisz said. Support from alumnae gives the players a sense of pride in their program and their identity as Sun Devils.

“I feel like it’s really inspiring to be a Sun Devil,” Marcisz said. “I know I’ll be coming back in the years to come because it’s so special.”