(Photo via Xavier Litman/WCSN)
Arizona State Women’s Soccer, (6-3-2) has now lost its third straight match in Pac-12 conference play, and the lack of goalscoring can best attribute to the recent struggles in the win column. The Sun Devils lost back-to-back games in southern California after Sunday’s game against the No. 8 ranked USC Trojans (8-2-1).
The match finished 2-1 in favor of the Trojans as the Sun Devils slid further down the Pac-12 pecking order. This becomes their third loss in a row and has now only registered six goals in five conference play matches, which is nothing compared to the 20 goals scored through the first 6 games of their schedule.
ASU finally found the back of the net Sunday in Los Angeles, but it wasn’t enough as they lost at the hands of the Trojans. The lack of goal scoring has been a concern of some, especially in regards to graduate forward Nicole Douglas, however, she was excellent in Sunday’s match pressing and creating chances for the entire 90 minutes.
USC has shown to be an elite team this season and that was no different on Sunday. They started off the blocks fast when sophomore forward Simone Jackson opened the scoring after sophomore midfielder Helena Sampaio played a freekick quickly catching the Sun Devils off guard.
USC continued to grow into the game early and ASU had no answers. The second goal came in quick succession following a great run from sophomore forward Kayla Colbert darted inside and assisted senior midifler Croix Bethune. Bethune rocked a strike from the top of the box into the roof of the net giving ASU freshman keeper Pauline Nelles no chance.
The Trojans had their foot on the gas early, putting the Sun Devils in a massive hole early in the match. It didn’t take too long for the tide to shift as players like Douglas, and freshman midfilder Enasia Colon grew into the match. Douglas used her excellent dribbling to produce high-intensity pressing to create havoc for USC, but ASU couldn’t find that final touch to get on the scoresheet.
The second half started off as slow as it can get for ASU. Colon scored from outside the box a couple of minutes into the half, leaving graduate goalkeeper Anna Smith rooted to the spot.
Colon would continue to be a problem for the Trojans, getting up plenty of shots outside the box.
ASU just did not have its shooting boots on all game, Douglas, Colon, and others had success up the wing creating chances yet the final shot was never there. Midfield partners graduate students Alexia Delgado, and Eva van Deursen managed to control the game as well down the stretch.
The backline of USC was stagnant for the entire second half. Sophomore center back Brooklyn Courtnall was a problem all day, not giving ASU a slimmer of hope offensively.
USC held onto its slim lead and claimed the victory at home, ASU has a lot of positives to take away from the match, especially in the final 70 minutes. But a slow start against a team like USC is always going to leave a side on the backfoot leaving almost an impossible mountain to climb.
The Sun Devils now look ahead after a tough time in Los Angeles, as they’ll take on the Utah Utes at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14 in Tempe, before taking a trip to the pacific northwest to battle Washington State, and Washington.
