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Back in the Saddle: Sun Devils remains unbeaten for 14th consecutive season-opening contest

Kierra Blundell’s first goal since October 2024 goes down as game winner for ASU

Back in the Saddle: Sun Devils remains unbeaten for 14th consecutive season-opening contestBack in the Saddle: Sun Devils remains unbeaten for 14th consecutive season-opening contest
New Mexico State Athletics

Natalie Drotzmann (24) looks towards Kennedy Zorn (1) before passing back to her goalkeeper during ASU's 3-1 win at NMSU on Aug. 12, 2026.

Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – It was a long time coming for Kierra Blundell, who was limited to just six matches in 2025 after being named the Big 12 Conference’s Freshman of the Year in 2024, as a 3-point performance from the Langley, British Columbia, Canada native powered Sun Devil Soccer to a 3-1 season-opening win at New Mexico State on Wednesday night.

The 3-point outing for Blundell marked the fourth time during her three-year Arizona State career that she’s totaled 3 or more points in a single match. It’s the first time she’s reached the mark since registering four points with a brace in ASU’s 2-0 win at Houston on Sept. 19, 2014.

Playing her first 90-minute match since the aforementioned victory over the Cougars in 2024, Blundell broke the match’s 1-1 tie with her third career penalty kick conversion – and first since her two-goal effort at UH – in the 81’.

As three Aggie defenders were moving in towards Blundell, who was on the receiving end of a pass into the attacking 6-yard box from freshman Ava Willard three minutes later, she found Maja Madon cutting towards the spot inside the 18-yard box. The freshman midfielder from Slovenia deposited the ball into the upper-right corner of the frame for her first career collegiate goal.

Scoring summary

44’ 1-0, NMSU, Goal by Angeline Montoya, Assist by Azalie Floriano

45’ 1-1, ASU, Goal by Miki Hayashi

81’ 2-1, ASU, Penalty by Kierra Blundell

84’ 3-1, ASU, Goal by Maja Madon, Assist by Kierra Blundell and Ava Willard

From Head Coach Graham Winkworth
"Tonight, I was very happy that the team was able to come away with the win. Winning isn't easy, and tonight the girls showed wonderful character by being able to come from behind during a critical stage of the match. It was frustrating to concede from a set piece as we pride ourselves in these areas, but the response was great. It wasn't the cleanest of performances at both ends of the pitch, but we showed glimpses of quality that excite me for the rest of the season. 

"I felt Maja (Madon) and Ava (Willard) were two of the top performers out there tonight. And I was delighted for both of them when the third goal went in, as both contributed massively to that excellent team goal. 

"We now look forward to getting back home and playing some incredible opponents in the next few weeks. I wish (NMSU's) Coach Baarts all the best for the rest of the season."

Match notes

  • Kennedy Zorn, Mya Angus, Ava Willard, Maja Madon, Emmie Ennis and Natalie Drotzmann all earned their first starts as Sun Devils.
    • Zorn (Michigan State), Ennis (Saint Mary’s) and Drotzmann (San Francisco) all arrived at Arizona State via the transfer portal, while Angus, Willard and Madon are true freshmen.
  • By not dropping Wednesday’s contest, Arizona State has now not lost a road season-opening match since 2012.
    • The Sun Devils’ trip to Las Cruces to begin the 2026 season marked the first road season opener since Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, when ASU beat Cal State Fullerton, 4-1, in Fullerton, Calif.
      • ASU last lost a road season-opening contest on Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, when CSUN won, 1-0, in Northridge, Calif.
  • With her goal in the closing seconds of the first half, Miki Hayashi has now scored a goal in back-to-back season openers for the Sun Devils.
    • Last season, Hayashi scored in the 14th minute of ASU’s 2-0 victory against Nevada on Aug. 14.
  • Arizona State’s three goals during Wednesday’s match were the most by a Sun Devil team in a season-opening contest since Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, when ASU beat Wright State, 4-0.
    • The three goals were also the most in a road season opener for the Sun Devils since Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, when ASU beat Cal State Fullerton, 4-1, in Fullerton, Calif.

Up next

  • After opening the 2026 regular season on the road, Arizona State (1-0-0) will now return to Tempe, where it’ll begin a stretch of eight consecutive matches at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium against Texas (1-0-0) at 7 p.m. MST on Thursday, Aug. 20.
    • The Longhorns are coming off a 3-0 season-opening win against Houston Christian and will make a trip to Pittsburgh to play the Panthers on Sunday, Aug. 16, before arriving in Tempe.

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