Sun Devils 2-2 tie with Colorado hurts tournament hopes

(Photo: Steve Rodriguez/ ASU Athletics)

Going into Friday night’s match against the Colorado Buffaloes, the Arizona State women’s soccer team was in desperate need of a spark. The Sun Devils had not scored more than one goal since September 15^th and had been held scoreless in their last four games.

Arizona State put together their best all-around performance since their four goal outburst ten games ago, but had to settle for a 2-2 draw in double overtime against Colorado. The tie makes the Sun Devils 3-4-2 in conference and seriously jeopardizes their quest for an NCAA tournament appearance.

Colorado jumped out to an early lead in the 17^th minute when Sun Devil goalkeeper Chandler Morris uncharacteristically mishandled a laser off the foot of midfielder Madison Krauser, putting the Buffaloes up 1-0.

Such bad luck was all too apparent for the Sun Devils throughout the game. It is worth noting that in the second half, Arizona State was called for 11 total fouls compared to Colorado’s zero. Also, the Sun Devils were handed five yellow cards while Colorado had one.

The Sun Devils continued to be at the mercy of questionable officiating. In the 25^th minute, Colorado goalkeeper Annie Brunner deflected Holland Crook’s shot, allowing an opportunity for a rebound goal. Forward Devin Marshall was in pursuit and collided with Brunner, leaving a wide open net for forward Cali Farquharson who put the ball away. The goal, however, was blown off, as a foul had been called on Marshall for colliding with Brunner.

In the 44^th minute, the Sun Devils would be redeemed. From a free kick, Marshall found defender Kaitlynn Pavlovich who out jumped everyone and headed in her second goal of the year.

“I have been practicing that a lot,” Pavlovich said, “It was about time that it happened. It felt good to get us back in the game.”

After snapping their scoreless streak at four games, the Sun Devils would add another in the 53^rd minute of action. Farquharson placed a beautiful left-footed pass to midfielder Blair Alderson who juked one defender and then fired a shot past Colorado’s goalkeeper.

Yet the Sun Devils seemed doomed from the start and were showered with more bad luck. In the 70^th minute, Colorado was awarded a penalty kick on what appeared to simply be a scrum for the ball. Coach Kevin Boyd stated that he never received any explanation as to what the call was. Regardless, midfielder Darcy Jerman placed a shot in the right corner of the goal, tying the game at two goals apiece.

The game would remain tied and was pushed into overtime.

In the sudden death period, the Sun Devils had a magnificent opportunity to win the match, as defender Larisa Staub had a wide open net but the ball just slid past her outstretched foot. The remainder of overtime was largely spent in the midfield, and neither team had any other genuine threat of a game-winning goal.

“My team battled a whole lot of adverse conditions today,” Coach Boyd said, “A penalty kick that should have been called for us but was called the opposite way, a penalty kick that was called for them for a completely unknown reason, and the goal that was called back as well—it was just a lot. Our team was utterly frustrated and they had every right to be. This is my 18^th year and I don’t think I’ve had as one-sided of an affair as that one.”

Boyd would go on to say, “I thought we were terrific today. We played hard, we were passionate, we created a lot of chances, we were sticking them in, they were just getting called out. I thought we were the better side the whole time.”

The Sun Devils were indeed the better team Friday night. However, that may be of little consolation. Boyd stated last game that he believed the Sun Devils would need to win out in order to reach the tournament. With the season dwindling down, the Sun Devils cannot continue to settle for draws.

The Sun Devils will look to get back in the winning column on Sunday when they take on Utah in their final home game of the season. Kickoff is at 12 p.m. and will air on the Pac-12 Network.

You can reach Jacob Garcia on Twitter @jake3garcia or via email at Jacob.M.Garcia@asu.edu