ASU Women’s Soccer: Sun Devils tie CSUN in non-conference finale

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

Despite dominating possession on Friday night, Arizona State soccer (6-2-1) was unable to break free from a 1-1 stalemate with Cal State Northridge (5-1-3) and settled for their first tie of the season.

ASU came out firing with multiple offensive pushes in the first half, the closest of these being a screaming shot from sophomore forward Marleen Schimmer that was deflected by the CSUN keeper in the 13th minute. Other chances were plagued by missed passes, deflections and poor shooting.

“We were playing really well, especially in those first 25 minutes,” senior midfielder Kylie Miniefield said. “We had such great possession and we created some good chances, but it kind of went downhill as the game went on. I think we just need to be more confident in taking quality shots.”

As a team, the Sun Devils outshot the Matadors 22-7, however, only six of those 22 for ASU were legitimate shots on goal.

“I’m really proud of our effort,” ASU coach Graham Winkworth said. “We’ve just got to be better in front of goal. We’ve got to be more clinical in front of goal because we had enough chances to win six games tonight.”

Despite the onslaught of shots from ASU, CSUN managed to break open the contest in the 49th minute when freshman defender Kacie Garity fired an arching strike from the left side of the box over the head of ASU freshman keeper Giulia Cascapera into the top right corner of the net.

ASU equalized in the 75th minute when sophomore forward Nicole Douglas scored her eighth goal of the season on a penalty kick set up by a hard foul on Schimmer.

“I was super nervous to take that kick because it meant so much to me and the team, but I knew I just had to place it,” Douglas said. “I am just happy it went in the back of the net.”

With Douglas’ penalty kick goal, she is now three marks shy of tying her total goals scored from last year of 11, with 11 regular-season games remaining.

The Sun Devils fought hard in the two 10-minute overtime periods; however, their offensive inconsistencies and solid CSUN defense thwarted their efforts and left the score untouched.

With their final non-conference match behind them, ASU has a full slate of conference opponents to look forward to, the first being Utah at home on Friday.

We have played some good teams in (non-conference play) and I think we are in a good place and playing some decent soccer,” Winkworth said. “I am excited about our future.”