ASU Soccer: Sun Devils close out regular season with big win over Arizona

(Photo: Blake Benard/WCSN)

The Arizona State Sun Devils brought home the Territorial Cup once again on Friday after beating No. 23 Arizona 4-1 in Tucson.

This was the final regular season game for both teams. The Sun Devils came out strong and scored their fastest goal of the season just 52 seconds in. Senior Cali Farquharson received a through ball from redshirt senior Mackenzie Semerad and placed the ball in the far right corner of the net.

Despite senior central midfielder Whitney Kanavel out with an MCL injury, ASU kept up the pressure and controlled the middle by winning balls in the air and getting to the ball first.

Towards the end of the first half, sophomore McKenzie Berryhill scored the Sun Devils’ second goal. The goal was very similar to a goal she scored last week against Colorado when she put a header past the goalkeeper. Berryhill started the season as a defender and has since started playing in central midfielder position, where she was able to use her height and strength to win balls in the middle and finish in in the air.

Arizona State started the second half with just as much energy as the first. Just over a minute in, Semerad had another cross to Farquharson that ended with an almost exact goal from the first half bringing the score to 3-0.

The Sun Devils kept the momentum going when redshirt junior Lucy Lara passed the ball to Farquharson and she was able to finish it far post earning the senior her third career hat trick. This was Arizona’s second goal within four minutes.

The rivalry game started getting chippier towards the end of the second half when Arizona freshman Paige Crouch received a yellow card after a scuffle in the corner.

After multiple chances on goal, the Wildcats were finally able to finish when senior Hayley Estopare managed to get a head on a corner, bringing the score to 4-1.

Arizona State had one last chance when Semerad had a shot on goal that was saved by U of A redshirt freshman goalkeeper Rachel Estopare. Estopare initially dropped the ball but was able to grab it while the ball was still touching a part of the goal line.

Before the game, head coach Kevin Boyd said the chances of the team making the tournament were slim even with a win. The Sun Devils will find out their fate next week as to whether or not they will make it back-to-back tournament appearances.

 

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