Sept. 22, 2008

TEMPE, Ariz. - This Friday marks the annual Arizona State University soccer Pink-Out game to spread breast cancer awareness, celebrate the brave survivors of the disease, advances in treatment, and reflect upon several years of progress worldwide in the search for a safe and effective cure for breast cancer. Fans wearing pink colored clothing will receive $3 admission to the game when the Sun Devils host UC Santa Barbara on Friday night at 7 p.m.

During halftime, the Guardians of the Ribbon, firefighters, police officers, and community leaders will be recognized for their help in raising awareness for the fight against breast cancer. In September 2007, the Guardians of the Ribbon began the "Pink Ribbon Tour" which in 2008 includes 35 stops across the United States. The tour will not only bring those battling cancer together, but will provide an overwhelming feeling of support for those combating the disease. The tour concludes October 25 when the "pink truck" returns back home to Phoenix. On October 25, 26, and 27 the Guardians of the Ribbon are asking public safety, local leaders, and citizens of the community to wear something pink to show support for those battling breast cancer. Along the journey to remission, the Guardians of the Ribbon have established support alliances with the Cancer Foundation and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To show support for your local officials and the battle against breast cancer we are offering any local official in uniform $3 admission to the ASU Soccer game on September 26.

The Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will be collecting donations at the event. Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cure. Money raised for the foundation funds important research, education, and health services to those affected by breast cancer.

For more information, please contact Jamie Acks at (480) 965-5941 or Jamie.Acks@asu.edu. To access all ASU Soccer promotional information, please visit the ASU Women's Soccer page and click on the links on the right side of the page.

• This will be the fourth time ASU and UCSB have played each other. The series is currently tied 1-1-1. The two schools played three straight years from 2004-06 with UCSB taking the first meeting 3-0 in Santa Barbara. ASU evened the series with a 1-0 overtime win in 2005 before the two teams played to a 2-2- tie in 2006 at Santa Barbara.

• The Gauchos will be the second ranked team that the Sun Devils have faced this season. Earlier this month the Sun Devils played No. 7 Texas to a 0-0 tie in Austin.

• ASU's current 3-0-2 record in its last five games is its longest streak of matches without a loss since the second half of the 2003 season when the team went 5-0-0. Earlier in that same season the Sun Devils had a mark of 4-0-2, which the 2008 team could equal with a win on Friday.

• UCSB enters Friday's match with a record of 6-3-0. The Gauchos, who in the preseason were picked to win the Big West by the conference's coaches, have already equaled their win total from last season.

• With her fifth goal of the season in last week's win over Cal State Northridge, sophomore Karin Volpe equaled her total for all of last season which led the team. The goal was also the 10th of her career, which tie her with former Sun Devil Holly Cohen for 10th on ASU's all-time list. Volpe is currently tied for fourth in the Pac-10 in goals (5), tied for seventh in points (12), tied for eighth in goals per game (0.56) and tied for 10th in points per game (1.33).

• Junior goalkeeper Briana Silvestri, who earlier this month was named for the Pac-10 and NSCAA National Player of the Week, is currently ranked third in the Pac-10 and 15th in the nation in goals against avg. (0.47). She is also tied for second in the Pac-10 in shutouts per game (0.50).

• As a team the Sun Devils currently lead the Pac-10 in corner kicks with 63.