2023-10-02 02:09:35
Next Game:
Washington
10/5/2023 | 7:00 PM
Pac-12 Insider
Oct. 05 (Thu) / 7:00 PM
Washington
History
BERKELEY, Calif. – The Sun Devil soccer team had to settle for one point instead of three in the Pac-12 standings as it played Cal to a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Enasia Colon scored her team-leading seventh goal while Pauline Nelles made five saves.
Defenders Olivia Coleman, Andrea Kraetzer and Lauren Kirberg played all 90 minutes on the defensive end. The trio, along with Emilie Simpson (83 minutes) and Lucy Johnson (79 minutes) and other Sun Devils, contributed to a defensive effort that kept Cal from scoring the go-ahead goal after the Golden Bears reversed the momentum of the game when they tied the game at 1-1 in the 41st minute.
Cal took eight of its 13 shots and had all nine of its corner kicks in the second half.
Keri Matthews (three shots/one SOG) and Enasia Colon (two shots/one SOG) combined for five of ASU’s eight shots. Also putting shots on frame were Suzuka Yosue and Florence Vaillancourt.
After the first two weekends of play, the Sun Devils (6-2-4, 1-1-1 Pac-12) are tied with Utah (5-3-4, 1-1-1) for sixth place in the Pac-12 standings. Four of the five teams ahead of them are unbeaten in conference play: No. 3 Stanford (10-0-1, 3-0), No. 5 UCLA, (9-1, 3-0), No. 19 USC (7-2, 3-0) and Cal (5-3-3, 2-0-1). Colorado (10-2, 2-1) is in fifth place.
MATCH SUMMARY
Colon opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a perfectly-placed volley from distance that Cal goalkeeper Teagan Wy was unable to keep from going into the net.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAL??@enasiacolon with the first goal of the game in the 7th minute!
ASU 1 | California 0
?? Pac-12 Arizona#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/nY8Df3YhKz
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) October 1, 2023
Keri Matthews nearly extended ASU’s lead to 2-0 a short time later, but Wy was able to leap and get a hand on the ball.
In the 25th minute, Nelles had to come off her line to challenge Cal’s Abby Borchers who had a 1v1 opportunity. Nelles executed a perfectly-time slide to prevent Borchers from scoring. With both players still on the ground, Borchers was able to pass the loose ball to teammate Ari Manique, who launched a shot from the top of 18. The Bears would be denied again as Hannah Lapeire – momentarily ASU’s last line of defense – got a foot on Manique’s shot to end Cal’s scoring threat.
DENIED?
?? Pac-12 Arizona#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/TpvC5YnDxP
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) October 1, 2023
The Bears knotted the game at 1-1 in the 41st minute. Cal’s Rilee Harmon caught up to a throw in near the endline and was able to get the equalizer.
Nelles, who made three of her five saves in the first half, was able to punch away a shot that came on a Cal set piece in the 51st minute.
At the start of the 68th minute, Lucy Johnson’s tackle in the box prevented what likely would have set up an excellent scoring attempt for Cal.
Nelles again came off her line to break up another potential Cal scoring opportunity in the 81st minute.
Up Next
The Sun Devils return to their home pitch for matches against Washington (Thursday at 7 p.m.) and No. 23 Washington State (Sunday at 12 p.m.). Click here to purchase tickets.
Quoting Head Coach Graham Winkworth
Overall thoughts:
“Today was a very interesting game. We spent the majority of the first half in control of the game. We were able to get into dangerous areas and possessed the ball with composure. I do feel that we needed more of an edge in the final third of the field, but overall, I was happy with the way the team worked both sides of the ball in the opening half.
“What we did do well the whole match was maintain both a defensive focus and effort. We defended set pieces very well and limited our opponents clear cut opportunities by putting our bodies on the line. This was very pleasing.”
On the second half:
“The second half was very different. We lacked that same composure that we showed earlier in the game and were unable to hold the ball up further up the pitch. We were not completing our passes or moving off the ball enough. We did not threaten California enough behind their back line which was frustrating.”
On the Bay Area road trip as a whole:
“The team continues to battle and show a lot of heart. To be level with Stanford in the 82nd minute and then pick up a valuable point at Berkley on the road is very positive.”
Looking Ahead:
“I am really hoping that after some rest and rehabilitation we can get a few of our sick/injured players back into contention soon. With all the important pieces that were missing today I am proud the girls battled to a result on the road against a very good California team.”
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