SEATTLE – Madison Kmetko's goal in the 105th minute of play gave the Arizona State women's soccer team its first Pac-12 win on Thursday as the Sun Devils came from behind to defeat the Washington Huskies, 3-2 in double overtime.
For the Sun Devils (6-4-2, 1-2-1 Pac-12), who were without leading scorer Jazmarie Mader (held out as a precautionary measure), it was their second double-overtime win in as many trips to Seattle as they won their first match at Washington since 2005 last year with a 2-1 double-overtime win.
"The win really speaks to the great character of this team and that's the biggest thing I want to emphasize," ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said. "I'm really proud of their resilience and the character that they showed to get a win here in a very difficult place to play."
The Sun Devils, who were officially credited with five shots, made the most of their opportunities. Through 86 minutes they had only three shots, one of those resulting in a goal by Aly Moon that gave ASU a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute.
The Huskies (5-7-1, 0-4) would knot the game at 1-1 in the 40th minute and then took the lead in the 53rd minute of play.
"I thought we played well at the start of the game and went and got a goal," Boyd said of ASU's performnace for most of the first half. "Then I thought we sat back a touch and I really think that Washington amped it up and responded well. They came back and got a goal of their own and that was something we needed to work through.
"In the second half they went and found another goal. From an organizational standpoint we did not deal with what they were doing very well. We made some significant changes and when we did we played really well. I was really proud of our response to changing systems and and the way we adapted to different roles."
The Huskies would stay in command until the 87th minute of play when Moon, who was forced to miss both of ASU's games last week, took a pass from teammate Lucy Lara and attempted to tie the game with a sliding shot that was deflected by Washington goalkeeper Sarah Shimer. The ball would take a fortuitous bounce behind Shimer, who had to go to the ground to contest Moon's shot, and Larisa Staub beat Shimer and two other Washington defenders in a race to the ball and knocked it in to tie the game at 2-2.
Of the game-tying goal Boyd said, "We showed great resilience and found a way to battle back and get the goal to tie the game. What I loved about it was not only was it a good chance by Aly putting it on frame, but also Lary following the shot. You get goals if you follow and she did a great job following and making sure the ball went in."
Although neither team took a shot in the first overtime, the Sun Devils got the better of it as they were able to set up their only two corner kicks of the game in the first frame of extra time.
The Huskies nearly ended the game in the 103rd minute when Shannon Simon, who scored Washington's second goal of the game, went up and got her foot on a cross that was to the right of the Sun Devil goal. Simon's shot went high and the game would continue on until Kmetko won it for ASU 2:16 later.
Staub started the series that would end up giving the Devils the game after she took possession of the ball just outside the 18. Staub made a quick move toward goal before passing to Lara, who quickly slipped a pass to Natalie Stephens who attempted to reach the ball with a sliding shot eight yards from the goal but could not quite connect as Shimer came sliding in. With both Stephens and Shimer on the ground, Husky defender Taylor Sekyra attempted to clear the ball out of a dangerous area, but her clearance ricocheted off Kmetko, who was charging in and quickly turned her body to the side to deflect the ball back into the net for the game winner.
"The good thing Kmetko did is she closed the ball quickly so their defender did not have space to clear it and had to clear it into her and she got the game-winner," Boyd said of the final sequence. "Kmetko came in and did what she does: She added energy and she added her fighting spirit and that makes a difference especially late in a game like that because she always goes all out."
In addition to the goal scorers, Boyd said there were several players who had impactful performances: "I thought (defender) Taylor Coon was very good. When she came into the game in the back she was one of the reasons why we were able to change and make adjustments. I thought (defender) Devyn Kelsey was exceptional, especially when we pushed her into the middle. I thought she did a really nice job there. I thought both Natalie and Lucy had some really good moments."
Defenders Mckenzie Grossman (played entire game) and Madison Stark (84 minutes), who were forced to leave ASU's most recent game vs. Colorado after colliding heads near the end of the half, both returned to action.
"It was great to have them on the field after what they went through only four days ago," Boyd said of ASU's two most experienced defenders.
In addition to Grossman, also playing all 105 minutes were defender Kelsey and goalkeeper Emma Malsy, who had two saves.
After not playing since a collision in the second half of ASU's Pac-12 opener at UCLA, Moon, ASU's active leader in goals (16) and points (45), accounted for three points in scoring ASU's first goal and then assisting on Staub's game-tying goal.
"For someone who has been out for two weeks you would never know it" Boyd said of Moon, who entered the game in the 24th minute. "First thing she does is get on the ball and score. She is an exceptional soccer player who changes the game every time she gets on the field and she did that again. She got the first goal and she created the second goal with her shot. Having her back on the field was wonderful for us."
The Sun Devils close out their road trip to the Evergreen State on Sunday (11 a.m. PT) when they play at Washington State. A live broadcast of Sunday's game can be seen on Pac-12 Washington. A tape-delayed telecast will air later in the day (5 p.m. PT) on Pac-12 Arizona.
For the Sun Devils (6-4-2, 1-2-1 Pac-12), who were without leading scorer Jazmarie Mader (held out as a precautionary measure), it was their second double-overtime win in as many trips to Seattle as they won their first match at Washington since 2005 last year with a 2-1 double-overtime win.
"The win really speaks to the great character of this team and that's the biggest thing I want to emphasize," ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said. "I'm really proud of their resilience and the character that they showed to get a win here in a very difficult place to play."
The Sun Devils, who were officially credited with five shots, made the most of their opportunities. Through 86 minutes they had only three shots, one of those resulting in a goal by Aly Moon that gave ASU a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute.
The Huskies (5-7-1, 0-4) would knot the game at 1-1 in the 40th minute and then took the lead in the 53rd minute of play.
"I thought we played well at the start of the game and went and got a goal," Boyd said of ASU's performnace for most of the first half. "Then I thought we sat back a touch and I really think that Washington amped it up and responded well. They came back and got a goal of their own and that was something we needed to work through.
"In the second half they went and found another goal. From an organizational standpoint we did not deal with what they were doing very well. We made some significant changes and when we did we played really well. I was really proud of our response to changing systems and and the way we adapted to different roles."
The Huskies would stay in command until the 87th minute of play when Moon, who was forced to miss both of ASU's games last week, took a pass from teammate Lucy Lara and attempted to tie the game with a sliding shot that was deflected by Washington goalkeeper Sarah Shimer. The ball would take a fortuitous bounce behind Shimer, who had to go to the ground to contest Moon's shot, and Larisa Staub beat Shimer and two other Washington defenders in a race to the ball and knocked it in to tie the game at 2-2.
Of the game-tying goal Boyd said, "We showed great resilience and found a way to battle back and get the goal to tie the game. What I loved about it was not only was it a good chance by Aly putting it on frame, but also Lary following the shot. You get goals if you follow and she did a great job following and making sure the ball went in."
Although neither team took a shot in the first overtime, the Sun Devils got the better of it as they were able to set up their only two corner kicks of the game in the first frame of extra time.
The Huskies nearly ended the game in the 103rd minute when Shannon Simon, who scored Washington's second goal of the game, went up and got her foot on a cross that was to the right of the Sun Devil goal. Simon's shot went high and the game would continue on until Kmetko won it for ASU 2:16 later.
Staub started the series that would end up giving the Devils the game after she took possession of the ball just outside the 18. Staub made a quick move toward goal before passing to Lara, who quickly slipped a pass to Natalie Stephens who attempted to reach the ball with a sliding shot eight yards from the goal but could not quite connect as Shimer came sliding in. With both Stephens and Shimer on the ground, Husky defender Taylor Sekyra attempted to clear the ball out of a dangerous area, but her clearance ricocheted off Kmetko, who was charging in and quickly turned her body to the side to deflect the ball back into the net for the game winner.
"The good thing Kmetko did is she closed the ball quickly so their defender did not have space to clear it and had to clear it into her and she got the game-winner," Boyd said of the final sequence. "Kmetko came in and did what she does: She added energy and she added her fighting spirit and that makes a difference especially late in a game like that because she always goes all out."
In addition to the goal scorers, Boyd said there were several players who had impactful performances: "I thought (defender) Taylor Coon was very good. When she came into the game in the back she was one of the reasons why we were able to change and make adjustments. I thought (defender) Devyn Kelsey was exceptional, especially when we pushed her into the middle. I thought she did a really nice job there. I thought both Natalie and Lucy had some really good moments."
Defenders Mckenzie Grossman (played entire game) and Madison Stark (84 minutes), who were forced to leave ASU's most recent game vs. Colorado after colliding heads near the end of the half, both returned to action.
"It was great to have them on the field after what they went through only four days ago," Boyd said of ASU's two most experienced defenders.
In addition to Grossman, also playing all 105 minutes were defender Kelsey and goalkeeper Emma Malsy, who had two saves.
After not playing since a collision in the second half of ASU's Pac-12 opener at UCLA, Moon, ASU's active leader in goals (16) and points (45), accounted for three points in scoring ASU's first goal and then assisting on Staub's game-tying goal.
"For someone who has been out for two weeks you would never know it" Boyd said of Moon, who entered the game in the 24th minute. "First thing she does is get on the ball and score. She is an exceptional soccer player who changes the game every time she gets on the field and she did that again. She got the first goal and she created the second goal with her shot. Having her back on the field was wonderful for us."
The Sun Devils close out their road trip to the Evergreen State on Sunday (11 a.m. PT) when they play at Washington State. A live broadcast of Sunday's game can be seen on Pac-12 Washington. A tape-delayed telecast will air later in the day (5 p.m. PT) on Pac-12 Arizona.