Can Devin Marshall be the difference-maker for the Arizona State Sun Devils this fall?

Well, she certainly won’t have to do it alone. Marshall will join other incoming freshmen Vittoria Arnold, Nicole Battista, Josie Graybeal, Rachael Ritter and Jasmine Roth on the ASU campus this fall.

But what’s intriguing about Marshall’s arrival is how specifically her skill set appears to fill the voids of the program.

Ranked as the 21st player in our Top 100 list, the dangerous Albion SC striker is instant offense in every way. Whether on the ground or through the air she has the ability to make things happen.

This is most relevant to the Sun Devils because of their deficiencies in the department of finishing last season. ASU finished near the bottom of the Pac-10 in just about every offensive statistical category there was last year.

So in a close race with Santa Clara and California, two other programs she weighed heavily, Marshall decided to become a Sun Devil.

It was a good “get” for ASU, which lost in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

“It was an extremely long and difficult decision and it all came down to where I felt more at home and could see myself for four years away from all of my family and friends. That ended up being ASU,” Marshall said. “I loved the coaches and the players and can’t wait to be a part of the team.”

Matching her big-time ability is Marshall’s confidence and ambition. Her goals are far from modest and she has set her sights on trying to crack the starting lineup for next year’s squad. She recently guided Christian High School in San Diego to the state semifinals and has similar plans for leading the Sun Devils to big heights.

“I think the greatest asset a player can have is not only being skilled, but being determined and being willing to push through everything and anything for the team,” Marshall said. “It’s that extra heart that turns a player from good to great.”  

It remains to be seen whether the same can be said about an entire team.