ASU prevails over Arizona despite lengthy weather delays

(Photo: Connor Gleason/WCSN)

TEMPE – ASU Soccer fans, including kids in costumes, lined up outside Sun Devil Soccer Stadium 40 minutes before the scheduled 7:00 p.m. kickoff on Friday night. ASU delayed the gates’ opening because of weather in the area, but ultimately allowed people to flow in around 6:40. 

The children got their popcorn, while their parents settled into the damp seats. Everybody was okay with a delayed start slated for 7:20. 

That start didn’t come for over an hour. Fans were directed to seek shelter and keep an eye on social media posts for updates, but many didn’t budge. They were there for the Territorial Cup. 

The few supporters who stuck around until the final whistle were rewarded as ASU (9-6-3, 4-4-1 Big 12) bested Arizona (5-8-5, 2-3-3 Big 12) 1-0 at the end of a marathon of stop-and-go action. Both teams were sent into their respective locker rooms and back onto the field several times.

The first 23 minutes of the game were played in pouring rain with lightning striking in the distance. Eventually, the conditions were poor enough to call for another stoppage. Despite all the anticipation for this matchup, head coach Graham Winkworth was happy with the decision.

“We need to use this break as a positive thing for us,” Winkworth said. “And use it to our advantage.”

The Sun Devils have been plagued with injuries recently. Winkworth mentioned his shock that 11 players have suffered season-ending injuries.

Because of those sidelined players, the team doesn’t have nearly as much depth as its opponents, so the extra break about halfway through the first half allowed ASU to get a breather, resulting in the 11 starters playing all 90 minutes. 

“If we didn’t have the delays, we probably would have (used subs),” Winkworth said. 

The team’s “Trick or Treat Night” seemingly attracted tons of fans, but their visits were short-lived because of the harsh weather. However, the fans that stuck around do not go unnoticed. 

“It’s nearly midnight, and there are still fans out here supporting the girls,” Winkworth said. “So a lot of thanks to the fans … for sticking it out tonight.”

As winter approaches, temperatures are dropping everywhere, but when you think of Arizona, you likely don’t think of blankets and heavy coats, but there were several of both at Friday night’s game.

First-year defender Gator DeMark, an Arizona native, wasn’t particularly familiar with the hard downpour, but she wasn’t mad about it.

“This was kind of different, but it’s a beautiful night,” DeMark said. “And the weather delay was in our favor … we won the game.”

DeMark was a key factor in the match’s lone goal. She sent a cross inside the area to third-year forward Kierra Blundell, who handled it perfectly and struck the ball into the net for the eventual game-winning goal. 

The goal came in the second half, after Winkworth made an impactful statement to his team at halftime.

“We said we wanted to play with no fear and no regrets, and I said, ‘You’re playing with no fear, but if we play the second half as we did the second part of the first half, are we gonna have any regrets?’” Winkworth said. “So let’s just go out there and have no regrets at the end of the game, and uh, I just love seeing their smiles.”

It wasn’t all smiles for Winkworth, though. The England native was somewhat uncomfortable with the unusual weather.

“Sitting still in shorts on the sideline, yeah, I was pretty chilly,” Winkworth said. 

He saluted not only the players on the field, but the subs and reserves for their energy throughout the challenges of cold weather and delays. He said that he doubted the players who showed so much effort were cold on the pitch.

Through the shivers and the excitement, ASU propelled itself to a massive win, keeping its tournament hopes alive. 

How did Winkworth feel beating a rival opponent at a pivotal time?

“Absolutely buzzing,” Winkworth said. “You want to win every game, but to beat your biggest rival is always that little bit much more.”

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