LOS ANGELES – The Sun Devil soccer team did not go down without a fight in Sunday’s 2-1 loss at No. 8 USC.
Freshman Enasia Colon scored her second goal of the season in the 48th minute to cut USC’s lead in half. Over the last 42-plus minutes of game action, the Sun Devils continually pressed looking for the equalizer. During that same span of time, freshman goalkeeper Pauline Nellesmade three saves to help keep the Sun Devils within striking distance.
Colon, who played all but three minutes of the contest, led ASU with six shots. Also posting multiple shots for the Sun Devils (6-3-2, 2-3 Pac-12) – who as a team outshot USC 21-15 – were Olivia Nguyen and Nicole Douglas, who had three shots each, and Eva van Deursen and Lauren Kirberg, who had two shots apiece. Nguyen (2 SOG) was the only Sun Devil who had more than one shot on goal.
The Sun Devils had more than twice as many shots as USC in the first half (10-4). Unfortunately for ASU, only two of their 10 shots were on frame. The Trojans (8-2-1, 4-1) were also on target with half their shots, but both resulted in goals to put ASU in a 2-0 hole after USC’s second goal in the 17th minute.
Time and again, Douglas worked her way around two, three and even four Trojan defenders to get into the USC penalty area. Although Douglas only had one shot in the first half, the attention she drew from USC’s defenders helped create opportunities for her teammates.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Steve Rodriguez
