TEMPE – Sun Devil Soccer took an early lead but eventually fell to Kansas 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. Despite the result, ASU clinched a spot in the Big 12 Tournament as other results around the conference went in their favor.
"Firstly, credit to Kansas on a well-executed and coached gameplan," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "They play a very effective direct style that our group had not seen to that extent before, and it created some real headaches for us. When you play against an opponent like this, you need to match their intensity and physicality. The vast majority of the team managed to do this for 90 minutes today, and I am incredibly proud of them."
Arizona State (8-6-3, 3-6-1 Big 12) went ahead 1-0 in the fifth minute when Olivia Coleman scored the first goal of her career. The tally came from a corner kick by Lauren Kirberg, who found Cameron Valladares on the far side of the box. She played it back into the middle of the area, where Blundell flicked it to Coleman for the goal.
"I was delighted with our set pieces all weekend. We defended against two athletic teams in this area well all weekend. We also created some lovely chances, and I was absolutely buzzing for (Coleman) as she scored her first career goal today. It is an absolute miracle that OC is still playing at the level she is after all the injury setbacks she has suffered over the years. She is now playing the best soccer of her career, and I am so proud of her. To do this after all the adversity she has faced is a testament to her character," Winkworth stated.
The score remained 1-0 into the 28th minute when Saige Wimes found her way to the end of a cross by Caroline Castans and snuck her left-footed shot just inside the post to pull Kansas (8-5-4, 5-4-1) level.
The Jayhawks took the lead in the 66th minute when Wimes played the ball across the box, where it snuck past a sliding teammate to the foot of Lexi Watts, who converted her seventh goal of the season.
Winkworth added, "We were unfortunate with both goals we conceded. The communication was not quite right for the first one, and Kansas punished us. The second one (Coleman) has put in a great effort against a very talented and fast opponent on the end line, but it has taken a very unfortunate bounce. Even after this Grace Gillard has put in a great block attempt, and the ball has unfortunately spun the wrong way for us into the goal."
That goal came shortly after the Sun Devils missed an opportunity to take the lead when Coleman headed a corner service from Kirberg that deflected off her ASU teammate and stayed out of goal. Ella Kettles had the only other shot in the game for the Sun Devils with an attempt from outside the penalty area in the 18th minute.
Kansas finished the game with an 11-3 edge in shot attempts while taking six corner kicks to four from ASU.
Pauline Nelles made one save in goal for the Sun Devils.
Prior to the start of the game, Arizona State had qualified for the Big 12 Tournament through losses to UCF and Iowa State. They will open the 12-team tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 30, against an opponent to be determined after the regular season ends on Friday. The tournament will be held at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
The Sun Devils close the regular season on Friday when they host Arizona in a Territorial Cup matchup. That game will begin at 7 p.m. at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
"Firstly, credit to Kansas on a well-executed and coached gameplan," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "They play a very effective direct style that our group had not seen to that extent before, and it created some real headaches for us. When you play against an opponent like this, you need to match their intensity and physicality. The vast majority of the team managed to do this for 90 minutes today, and I am incredibly proud of them."
Arizona State (8-6-3, 3-6-1 Big 12) went ahead 1-0 in the fifth minute when Olivia Coleman scored the first goal of her career. The tally came from a corner kick by Lauren Kirberg, who found Cameron Valladares on the far side of the box. She played it back into the middle of the area, where Blundell flicked it to Coleman for the goal.
"I was delighted with our set pieces all weekend. We defended against two athletic teams in this area well all weekend. We also created some lovely chances, and I was absolutely buzzing for (Coleman) as she scored her first career goal today. It is an absolute miracle that OC is still playing at the level she is after all the injury setbacks she has suffered over the years. She is now playing the best soccer of her career, and I am so proud of her. To do this after all the adversity she has faced is a testament to her character," Winkworth stated.
The score remained 1-0 into the 28th minute when Saige Wimes found her way to the end of a cross by Caroline Castans and snuck her left-footed shot just inside the post to pull Kansas (8-5-4, 5-4-1) level.
The Jayhawks took the lead in the 66th minute when Wimes played the ball across the box, where it snuck past a sliding teammate to the foot of Lexi Watts, who converted her seventh goal of the season.
Winkworth added, "We were unfortunate with both goals we conceded. The communication was not quite right for the first one, and Kansas punished us. The second one (Coleman) has put in a great effort against a very talented and fast opponent on the end line, but it has taken a very unfortunate bounce. Even after this Grace Gillard has put in a great block attempt, and the ball has unfortunately spun the wrong way for us into the goal."
That goal came shortly after the Sun Devils missed an opportunity to take the lead when Coleman headed a corner service from Kirberg that deflected off her ASU teammate and stayed out of goal. Ella Kettles had the only other shot in the game for the Sun Devils with an attempt from outside the penalty area in the 18th minute.
Kansas finished the game with an 11-3 edge in shot attempts while taking six corner kicks to four from ASU.
Pauline Nelles made one save in goal for the Sun Devils.
Prior to the start of the game, Arizona State had qualified for the Big 12 Tournament through losses to UCF and Iowa State. They will open the 12-team tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 30, against an opponent to be determined after the regular season ends on Friday. The tournament will be held at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
The Sun Devils close the regular season on Friday when they host Arizona in a Territorial Cup matchup. That game will begin at 7 p.m. at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.