(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
Arizona State (1–1–0) outshot New Hampshire (3–2–0) 13 to seven, took more corner kicks, and saw midfielder Alexia Delgado score her first collegiate goal. In the end, these stats were not able to add up to a Sun Devil victory, as New Hampshire came out with a 2–1 win in the second game of the Sun Devil Desert Classic.
Friday night’s game was frantic and fast-paced from the start, setting the tone for a match that would be dominated by the respective midfields. In the first 20 minutes, the teams combined for four fouls and two shots, only one of which was on target.
On a night where temperatures approached 100 degrees, water breaks were given midway through each half. It was just after the first half break that New Hampshire would find the breakthrough.
Wildcats forward Kaylan Williams tried to drive through the center of the Arizona State defense, and went down in the box under the challenge of center backs Madison Wolfe and Angela Boyle. The call drew howls of outrage from Sun Devil supporters, but New Hampshire forward Ally Reynolds stepped up to slot the penalty home, driving her shot down the center as ASU goalkeeper Sydney Day went to her right.
Late on in the game, Arizona State would call for a penalty of their own as a Sun Devil attacker went down in the box, but referee Matthew Sternheim would wave away the protests.
“The first [penalty] was called, you know I’m not the referee, but I thought it was soft,” said coach Graham Winkworth. “Second one I’ve got a player who’s just been kicked in the calf and it wasn’t called. That’s soccer, but we should be overcoming teams regardless of whether players are kicked or not.”
Just 32 seconds after making the penalty kick, New Hampshire would double their lead, courtesy of a “screamer from 40 yards.” Williams would tally her first goal of the season, a dipping shot falling right over the head of Day in the ASU goal, to give the Wildcats a 2–0 lead.
“We were a little shaky there in the start, and it showed, and it cost us some costly goals there in the first half,” said Sun Devil forward Casey Martinez. “I think New Hampshire is a very physical team, they came out with passion and heart, and they knew they were playing a Pac-12 team, and they were really trying to take it to us from the very first whistle, and that really showed.”
Arizona State came roaring out after halftime, scoring within three minutes. An ASU corner kick would initially be headed out by New Hampshire, but was collected by Sun Devil midfielder Alexia Delgado. The freshman slammed a volley with the outside of her right foot, with the ball clipping the crossbar as it snuck into the upper right-hand corner of the net.
“The truth, I am very excited and above all, very happy to have contributed something to the team,” said Delgado. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the result, but I am happy.”
The Sun Devils would control the balance of play in the second half, but would be partially done in by a pair of lengthy attacking droughts: separate periods of nearly 12 and 21 minutes without a shot. In between, forwards Marleen Schimmer and Casey Martinez had opportunities, but Wildcat goalie Mia Neas would hold firm each time.
“It’s easy to forget about the little things when you’re in front of the goal, you’re just like ‘The goal, the goal,’ but you really need to stay focused and remember the little things,” said midfielder Kylie Miniefield. “That’s something we definitely have to work on as a team, and we will, because the passion and the fire is there, it’s just little details at this point.”
In goal, Sydney Day made two saves for the Sun Devils, but would suffer her first collegiate loss. For the Wildcats, Mia Neas had a couple of shaky moments on crosses, but made three saves and got the victory.
Arizona defeated Southeast Missouri State by a score of 5–0 in Friday’s early game. Jada Talley, Emily Knous, Samantha Falasco, Morgan McGarry, and Brooke Wilson scored the goals for the Wildcats, who stay unbeaten on the season.
The second day of action at the Sun Devil Desert Classic will be Sunday, September 2. Arizona and New Hampshire will face off in the early game at 11:00 AM, with Arizona State and Southeast Missouri State to follow at around 1:30 PM.
Note: Alexia Delgado’s interview was translated from Spanish
