(Photo Courtesy/Sun Devil Athletics)
After 90 minutes of regulation, the Sun Devils found themselves in a familiar spot. With four unbeaten games in overtime under its belt, the team had the experience to pull out another victory.
The California Golden Bears (4-3-1) had other ideas and scored the game-winner in the 103rd minute of the second period of overtime, handing Arizona State (7-2-2) a painful 2-1 loss and its first loss in the PAC-12.
Entering the game the Bears allowed only six goals in their previous eight games but the Sun Devils had their chances to score. They took 20 shots with 11 shots on goal, but only managed one goal in the first half coming from freshman midfielder Jazmine Wilkinson.
“[Cal’s] backline is definitely strong,” junior forward Nicole Douglas said. “But I think our frontline is better. We just couldn’t put our chances away today.”
Douglas, the joint leading goalscorer in the PAC-12 had six shots and took on a playmaking role. Dropping in deep to receive the ball, she quickly picked her head up and played a perfect pass over the top to find her teammates making runs along the sideline.
The Sun Devils had strong build-up play from forwards like senior Cori Sullivan and junior Olivia Nguyen but couldn’t find the final pass to set up another goal. Every pass was perfect in the team’s attack but at the last pass, the attack fizzled out.
After trailing at halftime the Bears fought back scrapping for a loose ball that came off the crossbar to equalize in the 67th minute. From then on it was end-to-end soccer. Nguyen had a few golden chances to put the game to bed but was unable to convert forcing impressive saves out of the California goalkeeper.
In the first period of overtime, the Bears nearly stole the game right from the start when their quick forward slipped in behind the Sun Devil defense causing sophomore goalie Giulia Cascapera to make a save adding to her total of 11 for the night.
On the final stroke of the first period of overtime, Wilkinson got on the end of a corner but steered it just wide of the net. That miss proved to be untimely as it was ASU’s last chance to secure the win.
“I think we outplayed Cal definitely,” Wilkinson said. “We did all the work to get forward, get in the final third, and I think we just need to be more clinical.”
Not long after, the Bears crossed the ball from the wing to freshman forward Amaya Gray who slotted the ball into the back of the net just three minutes into the second period of overtime.
Despite the tough loss, head coach Graham Winkworth still has something to smile about after his team’s performance. Facing numerous long-term injuries and health issues related to the pandemic, Winkworth is happy to see the team play and compete at a high level.
“I’m really proud of the girls, we worked extremely hard,” Winkworth said. “I’m really proud of the way that they’re facing adversity and not using it as an excuse. So really, really proud.”
Playing multiple overtime games in a season is tiring and coming out unbeaten every time is exhausting. Winkworth continues, explaining his perspective on the latest overtime game Arizona State has played in.
“It’s just about who wants it, you know, and we had our opportunity. But unfortunately, you miss that and then they took theirs,” Winkworth said. “I think it was a little sloppy of a goal. But you’re more likely to have those types of goals when you’re fatigued and so I can’t fault the way we’ve defended, because we’ve been phenomenal all season long.”
ASU has not lost back-to-back games this season and the last time they lost, they upset No. 3 UCLA in overtime. The Sun Devils have their chance to rebound at the defending national champion Cardinal back at Sun Devil Stadium on April 4.
