(Photo: Christian Coates/WCSN)
The Arizona State Sun Devils defeated NAU 4-2 tonight to make it past the first round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2003.
ASU forward Aly Moon increased her goal count to 10 after netting two goals. This is her first NCAA tournament appearance.
Moon gave the Sun Devils the lead just 25 seconds into the game. Defender Madison Stark crossed the ball into the box to the unmarked freshman, who tapped it past NAU goalkeeper Natalie Gilbertson.
Less than 5 minutes later, Moon put another one in the back of the net in a similar fashion. Forward Cali Farquharson gave her a cross in front of goal and Moon once again found the back of the net.
“I think nerves kind of took us by the horns a little bit in the first five minutes,” NAU head coach Andre Luciano said.
The Lumberjacks made it a one-goal game at the 18th minute as forward Haley Wingender put one past ASU goalkeeper Chandler Morris from the top of the box.
But NAU could not get a break, as ASU pulled away once again in the 41st minute.
Senior Midfielder Brianna Gonzalez worked a give-and-go inside of the box with defender Larisa Staub to net the Devils’ third goal of the game.
“It was awesome. I don’t think I [could have] picked a better time to do it. I’m very excited I scored tonight,” Gonzales said.
Just two minutes into the second half, ASU midfielder Whitney Kanavel widened the Sun Devil’s lead. Kanavel found the inner side netting after receiving a ball from Moon at the top of the box.
Yet, the Lumberjacks did not go down without a fight, and found the back of the net in the 64th minute. ASU defender McKenzie Berryhill cleared a low cross in the box, but NAU midfielder Cierra Gamble recovered it and netted one from behind the 35-yard line.
“We’re tough, we’re nasty, we’re tough. We fight,” Luciano said.
NAU nearly scored again in the 72nd minute from a direct kick, but Wingender’s shot just missed left.
Six minutes later it was the Sun Devils nearly added another goal to their tally as Moon took advantage of confusion in NAU’s back line to take a shot from inside the box. She beat the keeper, but only found the woodwork on the other side.
In the end, the Lumberjacks just could not find it in them to tie the match, and ASU came out on top.
The Sun Devils will move on to the second round of the tournament, where they will face third-seeded Kentucky.
“It doesn’t matter who we face,” ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said. “We feel like we’re battle ready, and we’re going to go in and give it our best game.”
