BOULDER, Colo. – The Sun Devil soccer team’s offensive dry spell continued on Friday as they were not able to get any goals across in a 2-0 loss at Colorado.
In last Friday’s 1-0 loss to Cal, the Sun Devils did everything but put the ball in the net as they failed to score despite creating several dangerous chances. Against the Buffaloes it was creating scoring threats that stymied the Sun Devil attack as they were able to possess the ball, but could do little when they had it.
“For as much as we had the ball I thought we created too few scoring chances,” said ASU head coach Kevin Boyd. “While we are moving the ball around we are not penetrating and getting into dangerous spots. We don’t have enough players running into dangerous spots and we are not delivering the ball as well.”
ASU outshot Colorado 12-11 with each team recording five shots on goal. Cali Farquharson led ASU with two shots. Also registering shots on goal for ASU were Aly Moon, Rachel Ometer and Whitney Kanavel.
The Buffaloes (11-6-1, 4-4-1 Pac-12) got on the board less than four minutes into the game when Brie Hooks dribbled along the top of the 18 and left a pass for Olivia Pappalardo, who was coming the opposite direction. Pappalardo slotted her shot into the far left post to give Colorado the early 1-0 advantage.
“The first goal was set up by a turnover,” explained Boyd. “One of their players came at us and ran by a couple people in the middle. We bottled her up a bit and then they had a forward outside who ran right in behind our wide back, got slipped in the box and was able to beat our center back and slot it in.”
The Sun Devils (9-5-4, 2-4-3). were able to draw consecutive corner kicks in the 34th minute, but were turned back by the Buffaloes.
Moon had one of ASU’s best chances in the half when she tried to one-touch a cross inside the six, but was unsuccessful in scoring.
Unable to find the equalizer, the Sun Devils found themselves in an even bigger hole in the 75th minute after momentary confusion allowed Hooks to get slipped into a one-on-one situation and she took advantage of the opportunity, giving the Buffaloes a 2-0 lead.
The Sun Devils conclude their final Pac-12 road trip of the season on Sunday (2 p.m. MT) when they take on Utah in Salt Lake City.