Six players on the Arizona State women’s soccer team played their final home match Friday against the Arizona Wildcats.
Defender Lucy Johnson was one of the six who played her under the Tempe lights one last time in ASU’s 1-0 loss to the Wildcats.
“It’s been a pleasure to captain the team,” Johnson said after the game. “We’re not done yet. We’re going to a tournament where we have a new game and a new fresh start. It’s tournament soccer, so who knows what will happen.”
The ASU captain from Nottingham, England, is finishing her fifth year in the program and has enjoyed every second of it despite Friday’s defeat.
“It’s been the best four years of my life,” Johnson said. “Coming to this program was the best decision of my life and something I’d never change for the world.”
The Sun Devils finished their first Big 12 season with a narrow loss to rivals Arizona. An 11th-minute goal was the only difference on the night, as ASU finished 11th in the conference with a 3-7-1 record.
ASU head coach Graham Winkworth praised Johnson’s leadership throughout the season and believes she can help ASU in next week’s Big 12 tournament.
“Whenever the team is facing adversity on or off the field, Johnson really stepped up,” Winkworth said. “She has a great personality, is mature and a great captain. The other seniors also lead in different ways: they’re all great teammates, and that’s a way of leading. They’re all going to be missed.”
Despite the loss—ASU’s fifth in six games—Winkworth’s side will travel to Kansas City Wednesday for the Big 12 championship.
“We’re disappointed not to get the result today,” Winkworth said. “But we’re hoping to be more clinical next week.”
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