ASU Soccer: Analysis of loss against Washington State

(Photo: Jake Garcia/WCSN)

The Arizona State Sun Devils fell to Washington State Sunday afternoon 2-1 extending the Sun Devils’ loss streak to four.

For the first half, aside from the first five minutes, it was all ASU. The Sun Devils outshot WSU 15-1. For ASU, getting up forward didn’t seem to be the problem but finding the back of the net was.

“We played extremely well the first half,” head coach Kevin Boyd said. “With the exception of in the attacking 18 and finishing.”

In the first half what really helped Washington State was redshirt freshman goalkeeper Ella Dederick. Throughout the half ASU was really pushing forward and creating many chances, however, Dederick made eight saves in the first half alone, including a couple where she was way off her line.

“Props to the goalkeeper from Washington State” redshirt junior midfielder Lucy Lara said. “She played amazing.”

Dederick was playing a bit of a “sweeper keeper” role as she was high off her line a bit throughout the game. This tactic proved to be useful as a majority of long balls that were sent towards her net were collected with ease.

When it came to the second half, ASU didn’t bring the same intensity at the beginning like they had all of the first half. At the start it was pretty slow and the Sun Devils were struggling to keep possession of the ball.

“The first problem we were having was we were winning the ball and then giving it right back to them,” Boyd said. “We did it over and over again and it allowed them to keep putting balls into our end.”

It took a while for the energy to get going for ASU and as a result two goals were conceded in five minutes.

Despite the loss, ASU overall played a very good game. They kept the pressure up and were getting numbers forward but just couldn’t finish.

With the absence of senior forward Cali Farquharson, junior forward Larisa Staub stepped up provided an incredible spark off the bench in both halves and scoring within two minutes of being subbed on in the second half. Staub being the main bright spot for the Sun Devils this game, had seven of ASU’s 24 shots and showed how ASU is adjusting temporarily without Farquharson. She had a lot of chances to score, especially in the first half but the problem was the finishing and not being able to get past Dederick on a lot of the opportunities. For the future Staub said that practice will be a key factor in improving the finishing.

“Every day come out before [practice] during practice, after practice” Staub said. “That’s all your can do it just finish those quality shots in practice.”

Had Farquharson been able to play the problem of finishing would’ve been solved. She is a clinical finisher around the net and her absence is evident.

“Cali is a proven goalscorer,” Boyd said. “When she get’s chances she picks her head up picks where to go and puts it on frame. She either makes the keeper have to come up with a brilliant save or she scores.”

Although others are getting involved in the scoring, ASU is yet to win a game when Farquharson didn’t play. The chances are there for the Sun Devils. However, without Farquharson, the finishing isn’t.

ASU will look to end its losing streak next Friday game against Stanford 7 p.m. PST.