TEMPE – Cameron Valladares scored with 25 seconds remaining on the clock to give Sun Devil Soccer a 2-1 win over Utah Tech on Sunday afternoon at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
Valladares came onto a loose ball in the goal area after it was sent into the space by Keri Matthews as Arizona State (5-0-2) took a quick corner with time winding down. After her first touch took a deflection off a Utah Tech (3-1-2) defender, Valladares fired a shot into the goal to record the third-latest game-winning goal in program history.
The late heroics were needed after the visiting Trailblazers shocked ASU with a game-tying goal in the 86th minute as Emily Garbett hit a free kick from 40 yards out on the left sideline that cleared the reach of Pauline Nelles in goal and evened the game at 1-1.
It took the Sun Devils into the second half to break through the Utah Tech backline of five defenders for the game's first goal. Matthews provided that first goal in the 52nd minute after Lucy Johnson delivered a cross from the left sideline into the goal area for Mattews to redirect into the goal. The buildup started with quick touches from Kierra Blundell and Megan Sofield before Enasia Colon played Johnson down the sideline to create the space for the cross.
"I first want to praise Utah Tech and their coaching staff for an excellent game plan. They set up to try to pick up a point, and they were very close to getting it," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I was delighted with the first goal. We made some tactical adjustments at the half that gave us a little more width in the attacking third and were able to get a great cross in with multiple players attacking it. I was also delighted with the girl's response to conceding late. Instead of deflating the team, they went straight on the front foot, created chances and ultimately scored another lovely goal by attacking a cross."
While ASU seemed to control the action and pace with 21 total shots and 64 percent possession, they only put six of those chances on goal. Their best chance at scoring in the first half was a shot from Johnson in the eighth minute that hit off the crossbar.
Utah Tech was able to get seven shots in the game, with three on goal and many coming on counter attacks. They also took advantage of 10 ASU fouls to create opportunities, including their second-half goal.
Winkworth added, "I felt there were plenty of teaching moments from today's game. We were conceding too many soft free kicks in areas of the pitch that we need to be more patient defensively. In the attacking third we also lacked patience and resorted too often to taking shots from areas that were low percentage chances."
Blundell finished with an ASU leading five shots with only one on frame, while Colon didn't get any of her four shots on target. Five Sun Devils had two shots apiece on the day.
Nelles came up with a pair of saves to earn her fifth win of the season. The goal snapped a streak of 338 minutes, 4 seconds without allowing a goal. That's the eighth-longest shutout streak in team history and the second-longest for Nelles.
"I cannot wait now to be part of the Big 12 and start conference play with three incredibly tough away matches," added Winkworth. "It will be fun!"
ASU will now focus on Big 12 play after completing the second unbeaten non-conference slate in program history (2022; 3-0-2). The Sun Devils will open conference play with three straight road games, starting Thursday in Provo, Utah, against conference favorite BYU.
Valladares came onto a loose ball in the goal area after it was sent into the space by Keri Matthews as Arizona State (5-0-2) took a quick corner with time winding down. After her first touch took a deflection off a Utah Tech (3-1-2) defender, Valladares fired a shot into the goal to record the third-latest game-winning goal in program history.
The late heroics were needed after the visiting Trailblazers shocked ASU with a game-tying goal in the 86th minute as Emily Garbett hit a free kick from 40 yards out on the left sideline that cleared the reach of Pauline Nelles in goal and evened the game at 1-1.
It took the Sun Devils into the second half to break through the Utah Tech backline of five defenders for the game's first goal. Matthews provided that first goal in the 52nd minute after Lucy Johnson delivered a cross from the left sideline into the goal area for Mattews to redirect into the goal. The buildup started with quick touches from Kierra Blundell and Megan Sofield before Enasia Colon played Johnson down the sideline to create the space for the cross.
"I first want to praise Utah Tech and their coaching staff for an excellent game plan. They set up to try to pick up a point, and they were very close to getting it," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "I was delighted with the first goal. We made some tactical adjustments at the half that gave us a little more width in the attacking third and were able to get a great cross in with multiple players attacking it. I was also delighted with the girl's response to conceding late. Instead of deflating the team, they went straight on the front foot, created chances and ultimately scored another lovely goal by attacking a cross."
While ASU seemed to control the action and pace with 21 total shots and 64 percent possession, they only put six of those chances on goal. Their best chance at scoring in the first half was a shot from Johnson in the eighth minute that hit off the crossbar.
Utah Tech was able to get seven shots in the game, with three on goal and many coming on counter attacks. They also took advantage of 10 ASU fouls to create opportunities, including their second-half goal.
Winkworth added, "I felt there were plenty of teaching moments from today's game. We were conceding too many soft free kicks in areas of the pitch that we need to be more patient defensively. In the attacking third we also lacked patience and resorted too often to taking shots from areas that were low percentage chances."
Blundell finished with an ASU leading five shots with only one on frame, while Colon didn't get any of her four shots on target. Five Sun Devils had two shots apiece on the day.
Nelles came up with a pair of saves to earn her fifth win of the season. The goal snapped a streak of 338 minutes, 4 seconds without allowing a goal. That's the eighth-longest shutout streak in team history and the second-longest for Nelles.
"I cannot wait now to be part of the Big 12 and start conference play with three incredibly tough away matches," added Winkworth. "It will be fun!"
ASU will now focus on Big 12 play after completing the second unbeaten non-conference slate in program history (2022; 3-0-2). The Sun Devils will open conference play with three straight road games, starting Thursday in Provo, Utah, against conference favorite BYU.