Tucson, Ariz. -- The Arizona State soccer team battled all the way, but fell just short in the team's Territorial Cup matchup against Arizona Friday evening at Mulcahy Soccer Stadium.
The game opened with both teams creating chances, with the Sun Devils firing the game's first shot in the third minute of play.
Arizona would counter just minutes later with a pair of chances that tested ASU keeper Giulia Cascapera, but the talented freshman was able to get a hand on both attempts, and keep the game scoreless through the opening minutes of play.
With neither team able to break through, the match would head to the halftime break with the score reading 0-0.
In the opening minutes of the second half, the Wildcats were an early aggressor, and earned a trio of corner kicks in the first six minutes.
The Sun Devils would find their footing on the attack in the 58th minute of play, as Dai Williams created space and fired a shot from outside the 18' that forced UA keeper Hope Hisey to make a fingertip save to keep the game knotted at 0-0.
In the 75th minute of play, ASU earned a corner and set up a fantastic opportunity with a beautiful pass into the box for Christina Edwards, but another strong effort by the Wildcat defense turned the Sun Devils away again.
Just a few minutes later, Arizona would break through with the game's lone goal, as Jada Tally fired in a shot from outside the 6' box to seal the Arizona victory, and end the Sun Devils' 2019 campaign.
A Word With Winkworth...
On the team's fight on the road at Arizona;
"Tonight I feel that we came up against an extremely talented and athletic opponent. We fought with them through the first half, but we just ran out of juice in the second half. We fought like crazy. That is the best we have challenged a team physically in a long time. I was really pleased with our effort, particularly defensively. Unfortunately it just wasn't to be."
On Jessica Hale's effort on defense;
"The last two weeks Jess has been consistently one of, if not, the best player. She is like a sponge and is an intelligent young lady. We have asked her to do certain things over the last couple of years and she does them. I am just so proud of her because for a smaller young woman, she uses her body extremely well. She is so strong. I thought she did a fantastic job again for us tonight."
On Giulia Cascapera's performance in tonight's game;
"G has had a great game again today. I really feel for her with that last one going in because she had pulled off some really big saves. We did a great job in the first half limiting what we needed her to do, but in the second half she knew she was going to have to be ready and she pulled off some big saves for us. I think she is already a good keeper, but if we can get her fit and healthy, I think she can develop into a great goalkeeper."
On the 2019 senior class;
"I am devastated that we weren't able to get a result for them, as much as anything else. It breaks my heart when I see tears on the last day of a senior's career. You always know it is going to happen in one way or another, but it still breaks your heart. I absolutely love these ladies. They have been so fantastic for us over the last few years. They are Sun Devils for life. I think I speak for all of the staff when I say that we have all made friends for life. There are some very special young women in this group. They are going to go on to have very successful lives. I know their character, and this is just an amazing group of people."
On the 942 Crew's support in the game;
"I want to give a special shout-out to the 942 Crew. They have been behind us all season, but particularly tonight. There was a large crowd for today's game, and they tucked the 942 Crew behind the Arizona band, and still all we could hear was our fans outshouting the whole of Arizona's fans combined. They were phenomenal. I just want to thank them personally for their support and particularly tonight because they certainly won the battle of the fans. They are fantastic and I can't wait to put in performances next season for them."
The game opened with both teams creating chances, with the Sun Devils firing the game's first shot in the third minute of play.
Arizona would counter just minutes later with a pair of chances that tested ASU keeper Giulia Cascapera, but the talented freshman was able to get a hand on both attempts, and keep the game scoreless through the opening minutes of play.
With neither team able to break through, the match would head to the halftime break with the score reading 0-0.
In the opening minutes of the second half, the Wildcats were an early aggressor, and earned a trio of corner kicks in the first six minutes.
The Sun Devils would find their footing on the attack in the 58th minute of play, as Dai Williams created space and fired a shot from outside the 18' that forced UA keeper Hope Hisey to make a fingertip save to keep the game knotted at 0-0.
In the 75th minute of play, ASU earned a corner and set up a fantastic opportunity with a beautiful pass into the box for Christina Edwards, but another strong effort by the Wildcat defense turned the Sun Devils away again.
Just a few minutes later, Arizona would break through with the game's lone goal, as Jada Tally fired in a shot from outside the 6' box to seal the Arizona victory, and end the Sun Devils' 2019 campaign.
A Word With Winkworth...
On the team's fight on the road at Arizona;
"Tonight I feel that we came up against an extremely talented and athletic opponent. We fought with them through the first half, but we just ran out of juice in the second half. We fought like crazy. That is the best we have challenged a team physically in a long time. I was really pleased with our effort, particularly defensively. Unfortunately it just wasn't to be."
On Jessica Hale's effort on defense;
"The last two weeks Jess has been consistently one of, if not, the best player. She is like a sponge and is an intelligent young lady. We have asked her to do certain things over the last couple of years and she does them. I am just so proud of her because for a smaller young woman, she uses her body extremely well. She is so strong. I thought she did a fantastic job again for us tonight."
On Giulia Cascapera's performance in tonight's game;
"G has had a great game again today. I really feel for her with that last one going in because she had pulled off some really big saves. We did a great job in the first half limiting what we needed her to do, but in the second half she knew she was going to have to be ready and she pulled off some big saves for us. I think she is already a good keeper, but if we can get her fit and healthy, I think she can develop into a great goalkeeper."
On the 2019 senior class;
"I am devastated that we weren't able to get a result for them, as much as anything else. It breaks my heart when I see tears on the last day of a senior's career. You always know it is going to happen in one way or another, but it still breaks your heart. I absolutely love these ladies. They have been so fantastic for us over the last few years. They are Sun Devils for life. I think I speak for all of the staff when I say that we have all made friends for life. There are some very special young women in this group. They are going to go on to have very successful lives. I know their character, and this is just an amazing group of people."
On the 942 Crew's support in the game;
"I want to give a special shout-out to the 942 Crew. They have been behind us all season, but particularly tonight. There was a large crowd for today's game, and they tucked the 942 Crew behind the Arizona band, and still all we could hear was our fans outshouting the whole of Arizona's fans combined. They were phenomenal. I just want to thank them personally for their support and particularly tonight because they certainly won the battle of the fans. They are fantastic and I can't wait to put in performances next season for them."