ORLANDO, Fla. – Playing their third straight game on the road – in a third different time zone – Sun Devil Soccer earned a point with a 1-1 draw at UCF on Sunday afternoon at the UCF Soccer Complex.
Arizona State (6-1-3, 1-1-1 Big 12) fell behind 1-0 in the 22nd minute as UCF (3-1-3, 1-0-1 Big 12) got a goal from Annika Huhta. Her shot from outside the penalty area deflected off a teammate's back and carried over a leaping Pauline Nelles in goal for ASU.
The Sun Devils equalized in the 25th minute with Enasia Colon's fifth goal of the season. Taking a give-and-go from Megan Sofield, Colon dribbled through multiple UCF defenders for a left-footed shot that snuck into the side netting.
"I am very happy with the performance against a really talented UCF team," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I felt like the first half was about as good a game of football as you can get with two very good footballing teams playing some really good stuff. I am excited for Ena to come back to her home state and score a great goal."
Neither team generated many chances the rest of the game, with most shots coming from distance. ASU had a pair of opportunities in the closing minutes. First, in the 88th minute, a cross that Keri Matthews deflected just wide of goal. Then, in the 90th minute, Colon played a ball across the front of goal that came just out of the reach of Kierra Blundell.
Winkworth added, "The second half, we had to dig deep and it was not as pretty. Saying that, we created two wonderful chances at the end and could have left with all the points. Overall I felt a draw was a fair result."
On the day, ASU attempted eight shots, four of which were on goal. They held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks while allowing the Knights 18 shots.
Colon led the Sun Devils with two shots on goal, while Sofield and Cameron Valladares each had a shot on goal. Ella Opkvitne led the way with three shot attempts.
Nelles came up with five saves in goal.
The Sun Devils will now return home for three straight games, starting on Thursday when they host West Virginia in the first home Big 12 game for any sport in school history.
Arizona State (6-1-3, 1-1-1 Big 12) fell behind 1-0 in the 22nd minute as UCF (3-1-3, 1-0-1 Big 12) got a goal from Annika Huhta. Her shot from outside the penalty area deflected off a teammate's back and carried over a leaping Pauline Nelles in goal for ASU.
The Sun Devils equalized in the 25th minute with Enasia Colon's fifth goal of the season. Taking a give-and-go from Megan Sofield, Colon dribbled through multiple UCF defenders for a left-footed shot that snuck into the side netting.
"I am very happy with the performance against a really talented UCF team," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I felt like the first half was about as good a game of football as you can get with two very good footballing teams playing some really good stuff. I am excited for Ena to come back to her home state and score a great goal."
Neither team generated many chances the rest of the game, with most shots coming from distance. ASU had a pair of opportunities in the closing minutes. First, in the 88th minute, a cross that Keri Matthews deflected just wide of goal. Then, in the 90th minute, Colon played a ball across the front of goal that came just out of the reach of Kierra Blundell.
Winkworth added, "The second half, we had to dig deep and it was not as pretty. Saying that, we created two wonderful chances at the end and could have left with all the points. Overall I felt a draw was a fair result."
On the day, ASU attempted eight shots, four of which were on goal. They held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks while allowing the Knights 18 shots.
Colon led the Sun Devils with two shots on goal, while Sofield and Cameron Valladares each had a shot on goal. Ella Opkvitne led the way with three shot attempts.
Nelles came up with five saves in goal.
The Sun Devils will now return home for three straight games, starting on Thursday when they host West Virginia in the first home Big 12 game for any sport in school history.