(Photo: Bailey O’Carroll)
The Arizona State women’s soccer team (3-2-1) traveled to Tucson and lost a heartbreaker to the University of San Francisco 1-2 in its first game in the Cats’ Classic.
The Devils looked to rebound from a disappointing 1-3 home loss last Sunday against Denver University. The theme of frustration, however, carried over.
Junior forward Jazmarie Mader continued on her tear, scoring quickly and giving the Devils a 1-0 lead two minutes in. It was Mader’s fifth goal of the year, most on the team. Redshirt freshman midfielder Kylie Miniefield had the assist.
The Dons of USF were coming off a four game losing streak, being outscored 4-10 combined in the matchups and were desperate for a win.
The Devils had control early on, taking four shots in the first 15 minutes. Only a diving save by USF’s sophomore keeper Makayla Presgrave prevented Mader from netting her second of the game.
Freshmen Emma Malsy got the start at goalie, replacing redshirt junior Megan Delaney. After playing the entirety of second half in Sunday’s, today marked the true freshman’s first start of the year.
Stout defense by the ASU backline,as well as Malsy’s first save of the game, prevented the Dons from equalizing and sent the Devils to the locker room up a goal with their lead intact.
ASU enjoyed several chances in the first 20 minutes of the half, turning up the offensive pressure and coming out with shots on target.The Devils were unable to connect on a goal however.
The Dons were able to counter, coming close to equalizing on a shot in the 64th minute, with Malsy able to save the day for the second time.
USF finally broke out in the 80th minute, with freshman forward Kristin Krehibiel scoring off a cross for the Dons and tied up the game at 1-1, beating Malsy for the first time all day.
Desperate equalizing attempts in the last minutes were unproductive for the Devils as regulation timed out, signaling for overtime.
With 1 minute left to go in the second period of extra time, USF sophomore midfielder Micaela Mercado miraculously found the back of the net from 40 yards out, giving the Dons the win, providing a crushing blow to ASU.
The Sun Devils will look to end their losing skid on Sunday, when they close out the Cats’ Classic against Northern Illinois.
