TEMPE – Sun Devil Soccer began the 2024 season – and Arizona State's Big 12 era – with a 1-1 draw against Northern Arizona on Friday night at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. The result capped an emotional two days for the resilient team.
"Tonight, I am incredibly proud of the ladies. It has been a challenging week and the girls have really shown wonderful strength to come together," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I love this group very much and cannot thank them enough for all the work they put in today. I want to send a special thank you to our skipper Johno (Lucy Johnson), who has been a wonderful leader both on and off the pitch. She has taken to this role like a duck to water."
ASU (0-0-1) struck first as freshman Kierra Blundell slid a shot inside the right post from just outside the 6-yard box in the 20th minute. Cameron Valladares played the ball into the area, where it took a deflection off a defender and found the foot of Blundell for the finish.
With the goal, Blundell became the first freshman to score in the season opener for ASU since Nicole Douglas scored against Montana in the first game of the 2018 season.
Northern Arizona (0-0-1) secured the equalizer in the 83rd minute when Avery Ott took a failed clearance and found a streaking Deniah Wells, who finished on an open net to pull the game level.
ASU had several scoring opportunities in the first half, including a strike from Lucy Johnson in the third minute that caromed off the crossbar and stayed out of goal. Blundell was also turned away in the ninth minute and Megan Sofield had two shots saved in the final minutes of the first half.
The visiting Lumberjacks applied the pressure early in the second half, forcing ASU keeper Pauline Nelles into three saves on five shots over the first 15 minutes of the period. The Sun Devil possession controlled things after that and didn't allow another shot from the visitors until the goal.
Johnson had a chance in the 67th minute popped over the bar by NAU keeper Trinity Corcoran. Blundell was then denied by Corcoran from inside the penalty area in the 70th minute in what turned out to be the final scoring chance for the Sun Devils.
In total, ASU finished with a 12-9 edge in shot attempts, with seven of those chances on goal. Blundell led the way with four shots (three on goal), while Johnson and Sofield had a pair of shots on goal.
Pauline Nelles made four saves in goal for ASU.
Winkworth added, "I am excited about this group, and as we get a little healthier in some areas of the pitch, I feel we can put together another great year."
It's a quick turnaround for the Sun Devil as they return to the pitch on Sunday at 6 p.m. against Wagner.
"Tonight, I am incredibly proud of the ladies. It has been a challenging week and the girls have really shown wonderful strength to come together," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I love this group very much and cannot thank them enough for all the work they put in today. I want to send a special thank you to our skipper Johno (Lucy Johnson), who has been a wonderful leader both on and off the pitch. She has taken to this role like a duck to water."
ASU (0-0-1) struck first as freshman Kierra Blundell slid a shot inside the right post from just outside the 6-yard box in the 20th minute. Cameron Valladares played the ball into the area, where it took a deflection off a defender and found the foot of Blundell for the finish.
GOLAZO DEVILS ??
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) August 17, 2024
Kierra Blundell with the first goal of the 2024 season in the 20th minute!
ASU 1 | NAU 0 pic.twitter.com/1kdi5ULhwB
With the goal, Blundell became the first freshman to score in the season opener for ASU since Nicole Douglas scored against Montana in the first game of the 2018 season.
Northern Arizona (0-0-1) secured the equalizer in the 83rd minute when Avery Ott took a failed clearance and found a streaking Deniah Wells, who finished on an open net to pull the game level.
ASU had several scoring opportunities in the first half, including a strike from Lucy Johnson in the third minute that caromed off the crossbar and stayed out of goal. Blundell was also turned away in the ninth minute and Megan Sofield had two shots saved in the final minutes of the first half.
The visiting Lumberjacks applied the pressure early in the second half, forcing ASU keeper Pauline Nelles into three saves on five shots over the first 15 minutes of the period. The Sun Devil possession controlled things after that and didn't allow another shot from the visitors until the goal.
Johnson had a chance in the 67th minute popped over the bar by NAU keeper Trinity Corcoran. Blundell was then denied by Corcoran from inside the penalty area in the 70th minute in what turned out to be the final scoring chance for the Sun Devils.
In total, ASU finished with a 12-9 edge in shot attempts, with seven of those chances on goal. Blundell led the way with four shots (three on goal), while Johnson and Sofield had a pair of shots on goal.
Pauline Nelles made four saves in goal for ASU.
Winkworth added, "I am excited about this group, and as we get a little healthier in some areas of the pitch, I feel we can put together another great year."
It's a quick turnaround for the Sun Devil as they return to the pitch on Sunday at 6 p.m. against Wagner.