TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State women's soccer team had its unbeaten streak to start the 2016 season snapped at four games (3-0-1) following a 3-1 loss to Denver University in the final game of the Sun Devil Desert Classic on Sunday night.
The Sun Devils (3-1-1) dropped the game despite a 20-6 advantage in shots, the third consecutive game in which rang up 20 or more shots. However unlike it its previous two efforts – a 4-0 win over Loyola Chicago and a 3-0 win over Columbia – the high shot total did not translate into multiple goals.
Equally frustrating for ASU in the loss was Denver's ability to convert half of its six shot attempts into goals. And as if the statistical anomalies that went against them were not enough, the Sun Devils also had two goals nullified by offsides infractions.
With ASU coming in on a high note following its dominating win over Columbia on Friday and Denver (2-4) coming off its second straight loss, ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said the biggest concern he had coming into the game ended up being the difference.
"(After ASU's win and DU's loss on Friday) I was quite concerned that our team would take it lightly stepping on the field and I think that's how we started the game and then we had to recover from it," Boyd said. "Coming in, it's hard to change your mentality on the fly and that was our challenge. We outshot them 20 to 6 and we made errors all over the place, from the goal to the back like to the midfield to the front line. We needed to play significantly better."
Less than four minutes into the game the Sun Devils found themselves playing from behind for the first time this season after Denver's Mary Dewalt connected on a shot from outside the 18.
Within minutes it appeared the Devils had found the equalizer when Jessica Raybe sent a sliding shot from the top of the 18 that DU goalkeeper Cassidy Rey knocked down, but was not able to handle. Jazmarie Mader followed up with a rebound and for a moment the Sun Devils celebrated what seemed to be the game-tying goal. Unfortunately the goal would be overturned as the Sun Devils were whistled for offsides.
The Sun Devils did not let the bad break deter them as they continued to press on the offensive end. Their perseverance nearly paid off on more than once instance in the first half. After scoring the first goal of her career in Friday's win, Madison Kmetko nearly had her second in the 34th minute of Sunday's game, but Rey was able to get a piece of Kmetko's shot and knock it over the crossbar.
In the 38th minute, Rey was able to once again time her leap and knock away a well-executed shot from long distance by Devyn Kelsey.
Any positives that ASU might be able to take away from the near misses were tempered in the final seconds of the half after a Denver free kick resulted in a scramble in front of the Sun Devil goal. Karina Fredette was able to take advantage of the situation by scoring with two seconds left to extend Denver's lead to 2-0 at the half.
For all that had gone against them, the Sun Devils found themselves reenergized in the 54th minute after Mader scored her fourth goal in as many games to cut Denver's lead in half. Mader's goal was set up by teammate Aly Moon, who got into the scoring column with her first assist of the season.
Unfortunately for ASU, the momentum it worked so hard to attain would be stalled by the opportunistic Pioneers, who were able to once again reclaim a two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute when Hannah Adler scored off a cross in front of the goal.
The Sun Devils appeared they would be rewarded for their refusal to quit in the 85th minute when Natalie Stephens, who had DU goalkeeper Brittany Wilson charging toward her and a DU defender on top of her, was able to get just enough of the ball with her sliding shot to get it rolling towards the net. Madison Stark came in to finish off what Stephens started, however just like on Mader's would-be goal in the first half, the goal got taken off the board due to the Sun Devils once again being called for offsides.
Mader, Kmetko and Christina Edwards led ASU with three shots each. Goalkeeper Megan Delaney made two saves in the first half. Emma Malsy, who made her Sun Devil debut in the second half, also recorded one save.
Mader, who leads ASU with four goals on the season, Mckenzie Grossman and Aly Moon were all named to the Sun Devil Desert Classic All-Tournament Team.
The Sun Devils return to action next weekend when they travel to Tucson for the Arizona Cats Classic. ASU will face San Francisco on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and NIU on Sunday at 11 a.m.
The Sun Devils (3-1-1) dropped the game despite a 20-6 advantage in shots, the third consecutive game in which rang up 20 or more shots. However unlike it its previous two efforts – a 4-0 win over Loyola Chicago and a 3-0 win over Columbia – the high shot total did not translate into multiple goals.
Equally frustrating for ASU in the loss was Denver's ability to convert half of its six shot attempts into goals. And as if the statistical anomalies that went against them were not enough, the Sun Devils also had two goals nullified by offsides infractions.
With ASU coming in on a high note following its dominating win over Columbia on Friday and Denver (2-4) coming off its second straight loss, ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said the biggest concern he had coming into the game ended up being the difference.
"(After ASU's win and DU's loss on Friday) I was quite concerned that our team would take it lightly stepping on the field and I think that's how we started the game and then we had to recover from it," Boyd said. "Coming in, it's hard to change your mentality on the fly and that was our challenge. We outshot them 20 to 6 and we made errors all over the place, from the goal to the back like to the midfield to the front line. We needed to play significantly better."
Less than four minutes into the game the Sun Devils found themselves playing from behind for the first time this season after Denver's Mary Dewalt connected on a shot from outside the 18.
Within minutes it appeared the Devils had found the equalizer when Jessica Raybe sent a sliding shot from the top of the 18 that DU goalkeeper Cassidy Rey knocked down, but was not able to handle. Jazmarie Mader followed up with a rebound and for a moment the Sun Devils celebrated what seemed to be the game-tying goal. Unfortunately the goal would be overturned as the Sun Devils were whistled for offsides.
The Sun Devils did not let the bad break deter them as they continued to press on the offensive end. Their perseverance nearly paid off on more than once instance in the first half. After scoring the first goal of her career in Friday's win, Madison Kmetko nearly had her second in the 34th minute of Sunday's game, but Rey was able to get a piece of Kmetko's shot and knock it over the crossbar.
In the 38th minute, Rey was able to once again time her leap and knock away a well-executed shot from long distance by Devyn Kelsey.
Any positives that ASU might be able to take away from the near misses were tempered in the final seconds of the half after a Denver free kick resulted in a scramble in front of the Sun Devil goal. Karina Fredette was able to take advantage of the situation by scoring with two seconds left to extend Denver's lead to 2-0 at the half.
For all that had gone against them, the Sun Devils found themselves reenergized in the 54th minute after Mader scored her fourth goal in as many games to cut Denver's lead in half. Mader's goal was set up by teammate Aly Moon, who got into the scoring column with her first assist of the season.
Unfortunately for ASU, the momentum it worked so hard to attain would be stalled by the opportunistic Pioneers, who were able to once again reclaim a two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute when Hannah Adler scored off a cross in front of the goal.
The Sun Devils appeared they would be rewarded for their refusal to quit in the 85th minute when Natalie Stephens, who had DU goalkeeper Brittany Wilson charging toward her and a DU defender on top of her, was able to get just enough of the ball with her sliding shot to get it rolling towards the net. Madison Stark came in to finish off what Stephens started, however just like on Mader's would-be goal in the first half, the goal got taken off the board due to the Sun Devils once again being called for offsides.
Mader, Kmetko and Christina Edwards led ASU with three shots each. Goalkeeper Megan Delaney made two saves in the first half. Emma Malsy, who made her Sun Devil debut in the second half, also recorded one save.
Mader, who leads ASU with four goals on the season, Mckenzie Grossman and Aly Moon were all named to the Sun Devil Desert Classic All-Tournament Team.
The Sun Devils return to action next weekend when they travel to Tucson for the Arizona Cats Classic. ASU will face San Francisco on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and NIU on Sunday at 11 a.m.