“I think today was a solid performance as we continue to grow and gain experience with our attacking play but we look very solid defensively,” head coach Graham Winkworthsaid. “Unfortunately the lightning delay came at a time where I felt we were on the front foot and looking very dangerous.”
“I am delighted with the girls efforts and they are really embracing that this is a squad effort and not just about the group who start. There were a lot of game changers today off the bench and this was very important to the solid performance.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF
Despite it being an early start (10 a.m. MST), temperatures were in the triple digits for much of the first half. Both teams utilized their benches as the Sun Devils (3-0-2) had 19 players log double-digit numbers in minutes and the Broncos (1-1-2) had 16.
Neither team seriously threatened to score although both teams had moments where potential scoring sequences did not yield a great shot.
Boise State edged ASU in both shots (6-5) and shots on goal (2-1).
Enasia Colon led ASU with three shots while Florence Vaillancourt accounted for ASU’s lone shot on goal.
SECOND HALF
Less than seven minutes into the second half, the game was temporarily halted due to lightning in the area, the second such instance for a game involving the Sun Devils this season. The second half of ASU’s opener vs. Wright State (Aug. 17) was also delayed by lightning.
In the 65th minute, Lieske Carleer nearly broke the stalemate with a header off a corner kick, but her shot was just high. Carleer’s attempt ended up being the most dangerous scoring chance for either team in the game.
By game’s end, the Sun Devils had a slight 10-9 lead in shots while the Broncos had a similar edge in shots on goal (3-2).
ASU ended the contest with a 7-5 advantage in corner kicks. The Broncos managed to muddy up the flow of the game as they were whistled for 12 fouls compared to only three for ASU.
NOTEWORTHY
With the draw, the Sun Devils are now 31-7-4 in regular season, non-conference games going back to 2018, including a 17-1-4 mark since 2020. After going 4-0-2 in regular-season, non-conference contests last season, the Sun Devils are now unbeaten in their last 11 such games.
Pauline Nelles made three saves and collected her fourth complete-game shutout of the season and the seventh of her career.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils conclude the Sun Devil Classic on Sunday (10 a.m. MST) when they host Kent State at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. The game can be seen on Pac-12 Arizona.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Liesl Babicka
Click on Logo
