Berkley, Calif. -- The Arizona State soccer team picked up their sixth win of the season, and first in Pac-12 play, with a 2-1 victory over the Golden Bears at Edwards Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The win at Cal lifted the Sun Devils to 6-2-0 on the season, and marked the team's first win over the Golden Bears since the 2006 season.
"The team was fabulous today," head coach Graham Winkworth said of the road win. "Credit to California, who in the first half came out with a great plan and were in control with the majority of possession. They weren't able to create too much in open play and I felt like we defended very well. They were able to score a well earned goal off a corner kick and that is something in training that they have done very well with. I felt like we were in it and we were able to create a few chances of our own."
The Golden Bears got off to a hot start in the match, scoring the game's first goal in the 27th minute. The goal broke a three-game streak of shutouts for the Sun Devils, and represented just the fifth goal scored by an opposing team this season.
"We defended well again today," Winkworth said. "We conceded a goal off a set piece, but we did not allow many goal scoring opportunities outside of that. I was really proud of the fact that even when we were down, we fought our way back and just emphasizes the mental strength of this group of young ladies."
At the break, ASU would head to the locker room on the wrong side of 1-0 game, but statistically even match. Both teams managed four shots in the first 45 minutes of the match, but the Golden Bear's lone corner kick would prove to be the difference in the match.
"At the half I reminded my team that we were a goal down at half here last season," Winkworth said of his message at the break. "In that contest we were able to come back and tie the game. This season I feel like we are in a better place and I challenged them to go out and find the equalizer and why not a winner."
Entering the second half, the defensive effort from both sides held the scoring at the bay through the 69th minute of play.
Finally, in the 70th- minute, Arizona State's Nicole Douglas would corral a deflected ball inside the 18' and burry it in the back of the net to tie the game at one. The goal for the freshman forward marked her sixth of the season, and first career-goal in Pac-12 play.
A back and fourth battle would continue through the next ten minutes, before Alexia Delgado found herself on the receiving end of a beautiful pass from Douglas which led to the go-ahead goal for the Sun Devils.
The Golden Bears would make things interesting, getting a great look in the 85th- minute, but sophomore keeper Nikki Panas would come up with a save to seal the Sun Devil victory.
"I couldn't have written it better for our team," Winkworth said of the second half of play from the Sun Devils. "Jemma Purfield took a great shot from range and Dougie (Nicole Douglas) was there to tuck the rebound in. That is why we practice those situations, and that is why she is here, to score goals. Alexia demonstrated today why she will one day play in a full World Cup for her country. She had a wonderful finish on her goal to win the game. It was a beautiful goal and a beautiful performance from all of the ladies on the team."
Following today's game, ASU will head into the second week of Pac-12 play as one of six unbeaten teams in conference play. Things will not get any easier for the Devils as they return home to host Colorado and Utah at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on Thursday and Sunday.
"There are no easy matches in this league," Winkworth added. "Today's win was huge for us. For us to get off the mark and to now be one of the teams with three points, I would rather be in that situation than without them. This was a very important result and I am so proud of this team."
Fans can follow all of the action from the Sun Devil soccer season by following @SunDevilSoccer on Twitter.
The win at Cal lifted the Sun Devils to 6-2-0 on the season, and marked the team's first win over the Golden Bears since the 2006 season.
"The team was fabulous today," head coach Graham Winkworth said of the road win. "Credit to California, who in the first half came out with a great plan and were in control with the majority of possession. They weren't able to create too much in open play and I felt like we defended very well. They were able to score a well earned goal off a corner kick and that is something in training that they have done very well with. I felt like we were in it and we were able to create a few chances of our own."
The Golden Bears got off to a hot start in the match, scoring the game's first goal in the 27th minute. The goal broke a three-game streak of shutouts for the Sun Devils, and represented just the fifth goal scored by an opposing team this season.
"We defended well again today," Winkworth said. "We conceded a goal off a set piece, but we did not allow many goal scoring opportunities outside of that. I was really proud of the fact that even when we were down, we fought our way back and just emphasizes the mental strength of this group of young ladies."
At the break, ASU would head to the locker room on the wrong side of 1-0 game, but statistically even match. Both teams managed four shots in the first 45 minutes of the match, but the Golden Bear's lone corner kick would prove to be the difference in the match.
"At the half I reminded my team that we were a goal down at half here last season," Winkworth said of his message at the break. "In that contest we were able to come back and tie the game. This season I feel like we are in a better place and I challenged them to go out and find the equalizer and why not a winner."
Entering the second half, the defensive effort from both sides held the scoring at the bay through the 69th minute of play.
Finally, in the 70th- minute, Arizona State's Nicole Douglas would corral a deflected ball inside the 18' and burry it in the back of the net to tie the game at one. The goal for the freshman forward marked her sixth of the season, and first career-goal in Pac-12 play.
A back and fourth battle would continue through the next ten minutes, before Alexia Delgado found herself on the receiving end of a beautiful pass from Douglas which led to the go-ahead goal for the Sun Devils.
The Golden Bears would make things interesting, getting a great look in the 85th- minute, but sophomore keeper Nikki Panas would come up with a save to seal the Sun Devil victory.
"I couldn't have written it better for our team," Winkworth said of the second half of play from the Sun Devils. "Jemma Purfield took a great shot from range and Dougie (Nicole Douglas) was there to tuck the rebound in. That is why we practice those situations, and that is why she is here, to score goals. Alexia demonstrated today why she will one day play in a full World Cup for her country. She had a wonderful finish on her goal to win the game. It was a beautiful goal and a beautiful performance from all of the ladies on the team."
Following today's game, ASU will head into the second week of Pac-12 play as one of six unbeaten teams in conference play. Things will not get any easier for the Devils as they return home to host Colorado and Utah at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on Thursday and Sunday.
"There are no easy matches in this league," Winkworth added. "Today's win was huge for us. For us to get off the mark and to now be one of the teams with three points, I would rather be in that situation than without them. This was a very important result and I am so proud of this team."
Fans can follow all of the action from the Sun Devil soccer season by following @SunDevilSoccer on Twitter.