ASU Soccer: Sun Devils lose their fifth game in a row

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

The Arizona State women’s soccer team went away from Tempe for the second week in a row, playing their first of two games on the road this weekend against Colorado University.

Colorado is eighth in Pac-12 conference standings while ASU is in tenth place.

Angela Boyle, who was absent against Oregon with a suspension for receiving a red card against USC, was back in defense for the Sun Devils. Freshman goalkeeper Nikki Panas also returned to play Thursday against the Buffaloes.

Due to injury, Panas has not been in goal since she started against UCLA.

Colorado started its play off quickly, scoring in the fifth minute of the game. Panas had the initial save before the ball went back into play where the ASU defenders were unable to stop another shot on net by Marty Puketapu.

Nine minutes later the Buffaloes added onto the scoresheet, making their lead 2-0. Megan Masey beat Boyle before taking her shot inside the box on Panas. Madison Wolf and Boyle left too wide of a gap in the middle of the field causing the start to Masey’s goal.

Even though Colorado dominating most of the first half, the Sun Devils still had a handful of opportunities to score.

At the 30-minute mark of the first half, Puketapu tallied her second goal on the day off a cross from her teammate Taylor Korneick putting the Buffaloes up 3-0. Korneick had two assists during the game.

ASU finished the half with four shots on net while Colorado had seven shots on Panas.

Coming out of halftime, the game was even between the two teams. Colorado had a few chances to grow its lead, but were unable to get anything passed Panas.

Jessica Raybe was a standout player in the match against Colorado. Raybe worked hard all game and had multiple opportunities to give the Sun Devils a single goal, but was unable to.

Towards the last ten minutes of the game, ASU pushed to a least put one ball in the back of the net. The Devils finished the game with 18 shots, the same as the Buffaloes. However, only six of those shots were on net.

Colorado won its second game in Pac-12 play with a 3-0 win over ASU and ended its three-game losing streak. This is the fifth loss in a row for the Sun Devils.

The team makes their way over to Salt Lake City to play Utah on Sunday, October 22 at 1 p.m.