(Photo: Brendan Belfield/WCSN)
Arizona State (8-7-2) snapped its eight-game winless streak with a victory over Colorado (7-6-2) Thursday evening in Tempe.
The 3-2 victory marked Arizona State’s first Pac-12 win this season.
The Pac-12 foes’ similar overall record was reflected in a closley contested match. A pair of penalties would be the determining factor in the game, with Arizona State benefiting from two costly Colorado mistakes.
It only took four minutes for Arizona State to capitalize off a Colorado mistake. A penalty by Colorado senior defender Hannah Sharts awarded Arizona State with a penalty kick. Arizona State selected senior forward Nicole Douglas to attempt the kick. The nation’s leading goal-scorer flashed her talent as her attempt found the back of the net, marking her 16th goal of the season.
“It’s always nice to get an early penalty, especially when you have Dougie taking them,” Arizona State head coach Graham Winkworth said.
The game was far from over. Colorado responded 10 minutes after Douglas’ goal by way of a goal from senior defender Gabbi Chapa. Chapa hooked the ball into the goal from the right corner of the field. The staggering bend on the kick soared over the head of freshman goalkeeper Julia Ortega.
Chapa’s highlight was later compromised with a goal from senior forward Olivia Nguyen at the 26 minute mark. Nguyen floated the ball to the top right corner of the goal, leaving little chance for it to be stopped. Nguyen’s goal would go on to be the last flash from what was a fast-paced, high-scoring start to the game.
“We knew that Colorado was going to give us a lot of space,” Nguyen said. “I looked up and I saw the goalie was not right on her line and I thought I’d give it a shot.”
The two sides adjusted and were able to neutralize each other’s offensive attack, leaving the score at 2-1 at the half.
Close games were nothing new for either squad. Entering the match, 10 out of the past 11 matches for Arizona State had been decided by one goal or less. For Colorado, its previous four matches all went into double-overtime. It seemed destined the two sides were in for a nail-biter.
After 15 minutes of stagnant play to open the second half, sophomore forward Shyra James weaved her way through multiple Sun Devils and managed to score despite being in heavy traffic. The terrific play not only tied the game at two, it shifted all the momentum towards the Buffaloes. Sparkling with energy, the Buffaloes looked prepared to take control of the game.
Colorado vigorously pressed forward, but Arizona State’s defense held strong. Ortega was the staple of the Sun Devil’s defensive effort, tallying seven saves on the night. Her effort was never in question, as she was diving and leaping at what felt like every shot.
The Sun Devils’ defense never cracked. The same could not be said about the Buffaloes’.
The match began with a Douglas penalty kick, ironically, it would finish the same way. A devastating Colorado penalty, a hand-ball, put all the pressure on Douglas’ shoulders 76 minutes into the match. Lining up for what looked to be the potential game-winning kick, everything felt still, the crowd noise softened and all eyes focused on the senior.
She did it again.
“As a number nine, your job is to put the ball in the net,” Douglas said. “I just had to take a deep breath and do what I do, and it paid off.”
The clutch goal from Douglas put the Sun Devils ahead and they never looked back. Colorado head coach Danny Sanchez was furious with the penalty call, but his plea would not be heard. The clock was Colorado’s enemy as Arizona State’s defense held on for the remaining 14 minutes of the match, locking its first victory since September 17th.
“I think we’ve had another good performance, but I’m really proud of the girls because I think we got what we deserve finally,” Winkworth said. “I think it does give us a little bit of momentum so hopefully we can take that on into Sunday.”
Despite an exciting first Pac-12 win, the Sun Devils will not have too long to celebrate as they play host to Utah on Sunday afternoon. The match will be Arizona State’s final home match of the year and senior night.
