Sept. 21, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - For the second straight match and for the fourth time in seven matches, the 19th-ranked Arizona State soccer team (5-1-1) shutout its opponent, this time Kentucky (2-5-1) fell victim by a 4-0 score as temperatures climbed into the low 100s at the Sun Devil Soccer Stadium in Tempe. The Devils iced away the match in the first half with three goals, two from Brittany Cooper just six minutes apart.
ASU got on the scoreboard early in the 10th minute. Cooper set up a corner kick and sliced the ball into a crowed goalkeeper box where it found Holly Azevedo as she headed it pass UK goalkeeper Anna Ogundele. In the 34th minute, Cooper connected on her first goal as she took a pass from Courtney Crane and drilled the shot from the top left of the box from about 22 yards out for the 2-0 lead.
Cooper extended the lead to 3-0 in the 40th minute from nearly the same spot. Cooper, who now leads the team with five goals and 12 points, dribbled the ball around the UK defense and kicked the ball over Ogundele's out stretched arms into the back of the net.
Manya Makoski finished the scoring in the 51st minute when she took a through pass from Stephanie Ebner just into the Kentucky half and dribbled the ball around and pass the UK defense for a breakaway and the tally from the top right of the box from 15 yards out.
Kentucky did have several scoring chances with at least two balls hitting the crossbar, but both times the ball deflected out and was cleared by the Devils. Despite the score, the statistics were very close. ASU out-shot the Wildcats 15-14, while UK had seven corners to ASU's five. Fouls were even at eight apiece.
ASU goalkeeper Kelly Fitzgerald started the game going 64 minutes and making four saves before giving away to Hilary Wilson for the final 26 minutes of play. Wilson recorded two saves. UK's Ogundele went the distance, posting five saves.
ASU will close out its four-match home stand next Saturday, September 27 against New Mexico with a 7:00 p.m. kick at the Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.