TEMPE – Sun Devil Soccer overcame a sluggish first half with two second-half goals from Keri Matthews to secure a 2-0 win over Grambling State on Thursday night at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
"Very happy to get the positive result tonight," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "All credit to Grambling. They were one of the hardest-working teams I have seen in a while, and I have no doubt that if they play that well for the rest of the season, they will have a great chance of winning a conference championship."
Arizona State (3-0-2) failed to score in the first 45 minutes for the second straight home game despite taking 10 shots and getting seven on goal. Their home scoreless streak reached 169 minutes before Matthews opened her 2024 account in the 55th minute.
Enasia Colon created the opportunity with an open shot that was punched away by the Grambling (2-2-2) keeper to an open Matthews alone in front of goal for an easy finish. Matthews secured the brace in the 65th minute when she headed home a cross from Kierra Blundell for her second career multi-goal game.
Winkworth added, "Tactically, I think we got it right. We worked on a couple of things in the build that paid off later in the match. I am delighted for Kez (Matthews) to get off the mark for the season. Another thing that pleased me was the impact that one or two made from the bench. I felt that Maddie Shafer showed some nice touches in the midfield and a bit of composure in possession. I was also delighted with how Addie (Addison Haws) impacted the game with her energy and, despite not being the tallest, showing an ability to win aerial duels, which has been an area of frustration within the team."
ASU applied the pressure throughout the night with 25 total shot attempts and a season-high tying 14 shots on goal. The Sun Devils had 59 percent of the possession and allowed the Lady Tigers only five shots.
Colon led ASU with eight shots and five on target, while Cameron Valladares had four shots.
Pauline Nelles picked up her third clean sheet of the season with four saves.
Winkworth concluded, "Tonight we did not show quite the same level of quality in the final third both with our decision making or execution. I felt we were taking shots that should have been crosses for tap-ins. This was almost the opposite problem we had against Little Rock, so we need to work on getting this balance right as we move forward with the season. Overall, to be undefeated after five games is a great thing, and I look forward to our next opportunity."
The Sun Devils return to the pitch on Sunday when they host Penn at 1 p.m. AZT.
"Very happy to get the positive result tonight," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "All credit to Grambling. They were one of the hardest-working teams I have seen in a while, and I have no doubt that if they play that well for the rest of the season, they will have a great chance of winning a conference championship."
Arizona State (3-0-2) failed to score in the first 45 minutes for the second straight home game despite taking 10 shots and getting seven on goal. Their home scoreless streak reached 169 minutes before Matthews opened her 2024 account in the 55th minute.
Enasia Colon created the opportunity with an open shot that was punched away by the Grambling (2-2-2) keeper to an open Matthews alone in front of goal for an easy finish. Matthews secured the brace in the 65th minute when she headed home a cross from Kierra Blundell for her second career multi-goal game.
ANOTHER GOAL BY @kerimatthewss??
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) August 30, 2024
ASU 2 | GSU 0 pic.twitter.com/rOynp0Eqjb
Winkworth added, "Tactically, I think we got it right. We worked on a couple of things in the build that paid off later in the match. I am delighted for Kez (Matthews) to get off the mark for the season. Another thing that pleased me was the impact that one or two made from the bench. I felt that Maddie Shafer showed some nice touches in the midfield and a bit of composure in possession. I was also delighted with how Addie (Addison Haws) impacted the game with her energy and, despite not being the tallest, showing an ability to win aerial duels, which has been an area of frustration within the team."
ASU applied the pressure throughout the night with 25 total shot attempts and a season-high tying 14 shots on goal. The Sun Devils had 59 percent of the possession and allowed the Lady Tigers only five shots.
Colon led ASU with eight shots and five on target, while Cameron Valladares had four shots.
Pauline Nelles picked up her third clean sheet of the season with four saves.
Winkworth concluded, "Tonight we did not show quite the same level of quality in the final third both with our decision making or execution. I felt we were taking shots that should have been crosses for tap-ins. This was almost the opposite problem we had against Little Rock, so we need to work on getting this balance right as we move forward with the season. Overall, to be undefeated after five games is a great thing, and I look forward to our next opportunity."
The Sun Devils return to the pitch on Sunday when they host Penn at 1 p.m. AZT.