TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State soccer team fought a full 110 minutes against the 18th-ranked team in the country, but ultimately had to settle with a 1-1 draw against Colorado Thursday afternoon at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
The draw in Thursday's match stretches ASU's unbeaten streak to five matches, with a crucial home-game against Utah scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
"I thought this might have been our best all-around performance to this point of the season," head coach Graham Winkworth said of his team's performance Thursday. "If it wasn't for their goal keeper, who happens to be a local player, I think there could have been two or three goals we would have scored. Credit to Colorado and the hard work that they put in, and particularly to their goalkeeper, but I am really really proud of our team's effort. We played some beautiful soccer, created a lot of chances, and on another day that might have been a comfortable three points."
The Colorado offense broke through first in Thursday's match, netting the game's first goal in just the 13th- minute of action, forcing ASU to find a way to battle back from a one-goal deficit in their second straight match.
The first goal scoring opportunity for the Sun Devil offense came in the game's 21st- minute ASU midfielder Cori Sullivan flicked a ball forward to ASU midfielder Eva Van Deursen in front of the net, but Colorado goalkeeper, Jalen Tompkins, made a diving save to turn the effort away.
The effort for the Sun Devils really started to show as the ASU offense controlled possession for the majority of the first half, finishing the first 45-minutes of play with 11 shot attempts, four on frame.
Right out of the gate, the Sun Devils started to build off the momentum from the end of the first period, into the second half of the game.
The ASU equalizer would finally come off corner kick in the 51st- minute of the match. ASU defender Jemma Purfield placed a beautiful corner inside the six-yard box for Madison Wolf, who finished with a header, tying the game 1-1.
"This group of players has shown me more character than I could have possibly dreamed about," Winkworth said of his team's ability to claw their way back into the match. "Last week, down at halftime against Cal, this week down against Colorado, and they are able to come back. It is not that we are starting slowly, we are playing some of the best teams in the country. We played well in the first half and I thought we were very unlucky to be down, but for some great plays from their goalkeeper. I just told them to keep doing what they were doing and goals would come."
Both teams both teams fought hard, trading blows the rest of the match, but neither team was able to separate themselves in the final minutes of regulation, forcing the Sun Devils into their first overtime appearance this season.
The two teams battled through the first overtime period, creating great looks, but unfortunately for the Sun Devils, Tompkins and the Colorado defense would not allow the game-winner.
The best look for the Sun Devils came in the 105th- minute when senior forward Casey Martinez made a run all the way into the 18-yard box and fired a laser that was snuffed out by one of Tompkins' 12 saves on the day.
With neither team able to find the back of the net in the final minutes of the second overtime period, the game would end in a draw, the first for ASU this season.
"I think we were very unfortunate not to win today," Purfield said of the team's outing. "I thought we played fantastic from start to finish. We are a little disappointed because we wanted to win this one, but I am very proud of every single person who stepped onto that field today."
The Sun Devils will be back in action to wrap up the home-stand with a meeting with Utah Sunday at 1:00 p.m. PT. Fans can follow the action from that game by following @SunDevilSoccer on Twitter.
The draw in Thursday's match stretches ASU's unbeaten streak to five matches, with a crucial home-game against Utah scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
"I thought this might have been our best all-around performance to this point of the season," head coach Graham Winkworth said of his team's performance Thursday. "If it wasn't for their goal keeper, who happens to be a local player, I think there could have been two or three goals we would have scored. Credit to Colorado and the hard work that they put in, and particularly to their goalkeeper, but I am really really proud of our team's effort. We played some beautiful soccer, created a lot of chances, and on another day that might have been a comfortable three points."
The Colorado offense broke through first in Thursday's match, netting the game's first goal in just the 13th- minute of action, forcing ASU to find a way to battle back from a one-goal deficit in their second straight match.
The first goal scoring opportunity for the Sun Devil offense came in the game's 21st- minute ASU midfielder Cori Sullivan flicked a ball forward to ASU midfielder Eva Van Deursen in front of the net, but Colorado goalkeeper, Jalen Tompkins, made a diving save to turn the effort away.
The effort for the Sun Devils really started to show as the ASU offense controlled possession for the majority of the first half, finishing the first 45-minutes of play with 11 shot attempts, four on frame.
Right out of the gate, the Sun Devils started to build off the momentum from the end of the first period, into the second half of the game.
The ASU equalizer would finally come off corner kick in the 51st- minute of the match. ASU defender Jemma Purfield placed a beautiful corner inside the six-yard box for Madison Wolf, who finished with a header, tying the game 1-1.
"This group of players has shown me more character than I could have possibly dreamed about," Winkworth said of his team's ability to claw their way back into the match. "Last week, down at halftime against Cal, this week down against Colorado, and they are able to come back. It is not that we are starting slowly, we are playing some of the best teams in the country. We played well in the first half and I thought we were very unlucky to be down, but for some great plays from their goalkeeper. I just told them to keep doing what they were doing and goals would come."
Both teams both teams fought hard, trading blows the rest of the match, but neither team was able to separate themselves in the final minutes of regulation, forcing the Sun Devils into their first overtime appearance this season.
The two teams battled through the first overtime period, creating great looks, but unfortunately for the Sun Devils, Tompkins and the Colorado defense would not allow the game-winner.
The best look for the Sun Devils came in the 105th- minute when senior forward Casey Martinez made a run all the way into the 18-yard box and fired a laser that was snuffed out by one of Tompkins' 12 saves on the day.
With neither team able to find the back of the net in the final minutes of the second overtime period, the game would end in a draw, the first for ASU this season.
"I think we were very unfortunate not to win today," Purfield said of the team's outing. "I thought we played fantastic from start to finish. We are a little disappointed because we wanted to win this one, but I am very proud of every single person who stepped onto that field today."
The Sun Devils will be back in action to wrap up the home-stand with a meeting with Utah Sunday at 1:00 p.m. PT. Fans can follow the action from that game by following @SunDevilSoccer on Twitter.