LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Sophomore Enasia Colon accounted for her second, career high-tying two-goal game of the season and freshman Savannah Maley's first career goal turned out to be a memorable one – the game-winner – in Sun Devil soccer's come-from-behind, 4-1 win at New Mexico State on Thursday night.
"I want to say a huge congratulations to New Mexico State as they have been through so much as a group this season. The players and staff have done a wonderful job. They were first class tonight and in my opinion, very unfortunate to leave the game without something," head coach Graham Winkworth said.
Prior to the game, the Sun Devils presented the Aggies with a plaque for their locker room to honor junior Thalia Chaverria who passed away on July 13.
Although both teams qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament, the Sun Devils (2-0-1) faced a much more experienced squad in the Aggies (1-2), who returned nine of their 11 starters from last season.
Thursday's game followed a similar script to ASU's first two contests of the young season in that the Sun Devils were slow starting in the first half. In its season opening win vs. Wright State, ASU had a 13-0 advantage in shots (4-0 SOG) before exploding for four goals on 12 shots (5-1 SOG) in the second half. On Sunday vs. Mississippi State, Pauline Nelles played a big role in the game ending in a scoreless tie as the sophomore goalkeeper, who would go on to be named the Pac-12 goalkeeper of the week, made eight saves (one short of tying her career high) in a game in which ASU was outshot 13-3 (8-3 SOG).
Against the Aggies, the Sun Devils were on the wrong side of the ledger in shots (11-4), shots on goal (4-1), corner kicks (4-2) and – most importantly – the scoreboard (1-0) after 45 minutes of play.
"Tonight I was disappointed with our performance as we were lacking in both quality in possession and work ethic when out of possession," head coach Graham Winkworth said. "As the head coach I take the credit for the mistakes and I must do more to assist these players to be better. I must remind myself that we are in the process of rebuilding a squad and they have had very limited time together. We have to be patient with this group while trying to demand the high standards that we are accustomed to as ASU."
Despite having a plus-one advantage in players from the 32nd minute on – NMSU's Sydnee Johnson was issued a straight red card – it was the Aggies who would find the first goal of the game when NMSU's Bianca Chacon scored in the 39th minute, putting the Sun Devils in a hole for the first time this season after they were either tied or ahead in the first 218 minutes of play.
In the second half, the Sun Devils came out and played like the squad that dominated the second 45 minutes of last week's season opening win. By the 66th minute of the contest, ASU was no longer facing a deficit but was knotted in shots (11-11), shots on goal (4-4) and – once again, most importantly – the scoreboard (1-1).
For ASU, the game-tying sequence started when Lieske Carleer sent a ball from the defensive third of the field to the offensive third where Colon got a head on the ball. Maley was able to gain control of the ball inside the box and immediately passed back to Colon, who took advantage of a wide open look from 15 yards out and scored her third goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
Maley's assist, her second of the season, was just the start of what would become an even bigger night for the freshman forward. In the 80th minute, fifth-year senior forward Suzuka Yosue dribbled toward the end line and immediately recognized Maley was by herself inside the box. Yosue passed to Maley, and, like Colon earlier in the half, made the most of an excellent scoring opportunity and put the Sun Devils in front with the first goal of her career.
ASU extended its lead to 3-1 with Colon's second goal of the game in the 87th minute. For Colon, who tied her career high with her second two-goal performance in three games, it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. After an ASU shot was deflected by an Aggie defender, the ball bounced toward the way of Colon, who made quick work of the fortuitous bounce by drilling a shot from the top of the 18 and into the goal.
"I was happy with the quality of our goals in the second half, but we have got to be better in the penalty area."
Freshman Ella Opkvitne put the finishing touches on ASU's second, four-goal second half in three games by scoring from just outside the six after a cross from Colon in the 90th minute. It was the first goal of Opkvitne's collegiate career.
On the defensive end, the Sun Devils did not allow a single shot in the second half.
"Whatever result we pick up on Sunday, I am hopeful that the team can take this experience and learn from it," Winkworth said. "Nobody is going to just give us the points. We must earn everything. I am very much looking for a positive reaction from the group this weekend."
The Sun Devils close out their first road trip of the season on Sunday (12 p.m. MST/1 p.m. MDT) when they play at UTEP. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
"I want to say a huge congratulations to New Mexico State as they have been through so much as a group this season. The players and staff have done a wonderful job. They were first class tonight and in my opinion, very unfortunate to leave the game without something," head coach Graham Winkworth said.
Prior to the game, the Sun Devils presented the Aggies with a plaque for their locker room to honor junior Thalia Chaverria who passed away on July 13.
Although both teams qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament, the Sun Devils (2-0-1) faced a much more experienced squad in the Aggies (1-2), who returned nine of their 11 starters from last season.
Thursday's game followed a similar script to ASU's first two contests of the young season in that the Sun Devils were slow starting in the first half. In its season opening win vs. Wright State, ASU had a 13-0 advantage in shots (4-0 SOG) before exploding for four goals on 12 shots (5-1 SOG) in the second half. On Sunday vs. Mississippi State, Pauline Nelles played a big role in the game ending in a scoreless tie as the sophomore goalkeeper, who would go on to be named the Pac-12 goalkeeper of the week, made eight saves (one short of tying her career high) in a game in which ASU was outshot 13-3 (8-3 SOG).
Against the Aggies, the Sun Devils were on the wrong side of the ledger in shots (11-4), shots on goal (4-1), corner kicks (4-2) and – most importantly – the scoreboard (1-0) after 45 minutes of play.
"Tonight I was disappointed with our performance as we were lacking in both quality in possession and work ethic when out of possession," head coach Graham Winkworth said. "As the head coach I take the credit for the mistakes and I must do more to assist these players to be better. I must remind myself that we are in the process of rebuilding a squad and they have had very limited time together. We have to be patient with this group while trying to demand the high standards that we are accustomed to as ASU."
Despite having a plus-one advantage in players from the 32nd minute on – NMSU's Sydnee Johnson was issued a straight red card – it was the Aggies who would find the first goal of the game when NMSU's Bianca Chacon scored in the 39th minute, putting the Sun Devils in a hole for the first time this season after they were either tied or ahead in the first 218 minutes of play.
In the second half, the Sun Devils came out and played like the squad that dominated the second 45 minutes of last week's season opening win. By the 66th minute of the contest, ASU was no longer facing a deficit but was knotted in shots (11-11), shots on goal (4-4) and – once again, most importantly – the scoreboard (1-1).
For ASU, the game-tying sequence started when Lieske Carleer sent a ball from the defensive third of the field to the offensive third where Colon got a head on the ball. Maley was able to gain control of the ball inside the box and immediately passed back to Colon, who took advantage of a wide open look from 15 yards out and scored her third goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
Maley's assist, her second of the season, was just the start of what would become an even bigger night for the freshman forward. In the 80th minute, fifth-year senior forward Suzuka Yosue dribbled toward the end line and immediately recognized Maley was by herself inside the box. Yosue passed to Maley, and, like Colon earlier in the half, made the most of an excellent scoring opportunity and put the Sun Devils in front with the first goal of her career.
ASU extended its lead to 3-1 with Colon's second goal of the game in the 87th minute. For Colon, who tied her career high with her second two-goal performance in three games, it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. After an ASU shot was deflected by an Aggie defender, the ball bounced toward the way of Colon, who made quick work of the fortuitous bounce by drilling a shot from the top of the 18 and into the goal.
"I was happy with the quality of our goals in the second half, but we have got to be better in the penalty area."
Freshman Ella Opkvitne put the finishing touches on ASU's second, four-goal second half in three games by scoring from just outside the six after a cross from Colon in the 90th minute. It was the first goal of Opkvitne's collegiate career.
On the defensive end, the Sun Devils did not allow a single shot in the second half.
"Whatever result we pick up on Sunday, I am hopeful that the team can take this experience and learn from it," Winkworth said. "Nobody is going to just give us the points. We must earn everything. I am very much looking for a positive reaction from the group this weekend."
The Sun Devils close out their first road trip of the season on Sunday (12 p.m. MST/1 p.m. MDT) when they play at UTEP. The game can be seen on ESPN+.