ASU Soccer: Devils lose late, fall to disadvantaged Texas Tech

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

The Arizona State women’s soccer team traveled 109 miles south to Tucson on Friday as they began their journey in the University of Arizona Tournament.

ASU was two minutes away from the team’s fourth overtime game of the season, but Texas Tech freshman forward Ally Griffin thought the game should conclude differently.

The game started off quickly with a Texas Tech corner kick defended by the ASU defense. Sun Devil goal keeper Nikki Panas began the game strong, staying aggressive against the Texas Tech offense.

The Sun Devils soon took matters into their own hands, scoring off a corner kick 14 minutes into the game. Jemma Purfield served the ball into the box and found the foot of sophomore forward Christina Edwards, who scored her first goal of the season and gave the Devils a 1-0 lead.

Texas Tech didn’t take long to tie the game up, however, as two minutes later, Griffin scored her first goal of the night. It was a routine corner kick for the Red Raiders, but Griffin found the ball and headed it past Panas to tie the score.

At halftime, the game was still 1-1, then at the 52-minute mark, Texas Tech’s Carly Wickenheiser received a red card for a high boot that found the neck of ASU’ senior forward Jessica Raybe, who later received a yellow card in minute 78 of the game. As a result of the red card, the Red Raiders spent the rest of the game down one player.

With less than three minutes left in the game, Griffin was tightly marked, barely making her turn past the ASU defense and took a right footed shot. The ball ended up in the bottom left hand corner, squeaking by Panas.

Griffin’s second goal completed a hard task for the Red Raiders — playing a man down and coming back to beat ASU 2-1.

This marks the second game that Panas has allowed two goals during the game after a clean sheeted start against Boston University.

Overall, the match was one of the most physical contests the Sun Devils have played in all season. The Devils committed 15 fouls while the Red Raiders committed nine fouls. By the end of the game, Texas Tech was pressuring high on ASU despite being down a player, competing for any attempt to pull out a goal in the remaining minutes of the game.

The Sun Devils will play their second game in the tournament on Sunday, September 10, against Florida Gulf Coast at 3 p.m.

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