(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
It was a cool musty night in Tucson when the Arizona State Sun Devils took on the Arizona Wildcats for the Territorial Cup. Thursday night was filled with lots of emotions for ASU players, because for some this would be the last time they ever stepped onto a pitch.
This year’s game, however, would end in the Wildcats favor with a one goal win against the Devils. For the second year in a row U of A would claim the Territorial Cup.
Both teams play opposite styles of soccer. Arizona tends to take on a more direct approach to net while the Devils like to play technical and with loads of possession.
Arizona’s style of play did not surprise ASU and they were able to contain the Wildcats most the game.
At the beginning of the game, the Wildcats dominated the final third of the pitch. But, every time the team came charging on, the Sun Devils were there to clear the ball from ever entering the back of the net.
Throughout the game, senior Jazmarie Mader was determined to score her first goal of the season. Mader hustled around the pitch and pressed the Wildcats backline.
The Wildcats put one in the back of the net first. With eight minutes left in the first half freshman forward Hannah Clifford scored her second goal of the season.
ASU goalkeeper Nikki Panas had the initial save off the corner, but was unable to hold on for the second save on Clifford.
Going into the second half, the Sun Devils didn’t have as much offense as they did in the first. Even though the team only had one shot, that didn’t account for how much the Devils were in Arizona’s defensive end.
Arizona controlled the beginning of the second half adding onto their large tally of shots.
However, ASU was not going down without a fight. And neither was Mader.
In the 69 minute of the game Mader came down the right flank and beat the U of A defender by cutting inside and taking a strike with her left foot. Her goal tied the game 1-1.
“What a beautiful strike it was too,” head coach Graham Winkworth said. “She did a great job getting into the channel, coming inside and then curving in a great finish. I was really proud of her.”
Mader tallied her first and only goal of her senior season.
“I saw my entire senior season flash before my eyes,”Mader said. “I’ve been trying to score since the beginning and I just knew that I had to cut inside and if I took that opportunity, I had a solid chance of it going in and watching it go in, finally, was probably the best feelings I have ever had.”
Mader’s goal to tie the game was cut short seven minutes later when freshman midfielder Amanda Porter received a through ball from Gabi Stoian and pushed the ball past Panas near post.
The Wildcats took back the lead against the Devils, who were unable to finish another goal in the back of the net losing the game 2-1.
“I think we were fantastic,”Jemma Purfield said. “We defended it very well, I think we worked hard, we pressed everything, we won 50/50s, we won first balls and second balls. I think as a team we were absolutely brilliant tonight, it was probably one of our best performances.”
Despite their loss, the Sun Devils could hold their heads high after their first season with a new head coach. The team moved 40 to 50 spots up in RPI rankings from last year.
Things are moving forward for the Sun Devils even though they didn’t win the Territorial Cup Thursday night against the Wildcats. But, for the juniors and other teammates, next season is another chance at reclaiming that title.
