(Photo courtesy Sun Devil Athletics)
In a game that Arizona State (1-0-1) defender, junior Lauren Kierbeg described as “tough”, neither team managed to find a goal in a tactical battle that ended 0-0 Sunday night. Mississippi State (1-0-1) created most of the chances with 13 shots to ASUs three.
After ASU’s initial 4-0 dominating win over Wright State on Thursday, Sunday’s match was night and day in comparison as they struggled to win duels and failed to get a foothold against a physical Mississippi State team.
“They were a tough team physically,” Kierberg said. “We prepared for it in practice, but we were not really used to the physicality of teams from the east coast.”
The windy climate played a heavy role during the match, with winds reaching up to 23 mph in the first half, making it difficult for both teams to connect passes in the attacking phase of play.
“Unfortunately for us, the conditions were not conducive for playing beautiful football like we did on Thursday night but we got away with it,” ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said.
Winkworth saw both sides play passively due to the wind, as he hoped to hold out the wind until halftime, he felt the Bulldogs had a similar mindset.
“To be honest it looks like they played to take a point themselves, but I wanted to take the clock out of the first half to use the wind to our advantage in the second half.”
Winkworth said his side’s struggles also come from a lack of experience, as the Sun Devils have 20 underclassmen on their roster as they work through growing pains as a unit.
“We’re playing a new system,” Winkworth said. “We had 11 debutants this weekend. This roster is made up of 20 freshmen and sophomores who are going to take a little bit of time to make the short-term successful.”
A player who positively impacted the match was sophomore goalkeeper Pauline Nelles. The German native had eight saves Sunday night, keeping another clean sheet making that two from the first two games of the season. She also played remarkably composed building out of the back, a style of play she feels suits her.
“I feel comfortable to build, I’m not a goalkeeper that likes to kick it long, I try to play out,” Nelles said. “I think it’s my style. When I was a little kid I was told to play and to build, it’s in me.”
Nelles said the confidence amongst the Sun Devils’ backline is at an all-time high with the defensive success they’ve had thus far.
“10 out of 10 confident we go with that onto the next game on Thursday and Sunday for the two away games,” Nelles said.
ASU prepares to hit the road for its first road match on Thursday when it takes on New Mexico State (1-1-0) in Las Cruces, New Mexico. New Mexico State has started the season off shaky as they lost 5-0 to Texas Tech Sunday night.
The Sun Devils will also take on Texas El Paso Sunday afternoon. The Miners are yet to win a match in their opening two fixtures losing to Northern Arizona and San Diego State University respectively.
