SEATTLE -- The Arizona State women’s soccer team was unable to earn its second straight Pac-12 win Sunday, falling to Washington 2-0.
Coming off a 1-0 win at Washington State on Friday, the Sun Devils (6-7-1, 2-3 Pac-12) came into Sunday’s game seeking their first sweep of the Washington schools on the road since 2005. It was not to be however, as a slow start combined with bad luck in an all-too-familiar scenario had the Devils fighting an uphill battle they were not able to overcome.
“I thought we had a poor first half,” ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said following the game. “We did not come out playing our way. I didn’t think our energy or focus was good out there. It just didn’t look like us.”
Despite its inability to get a consistent attack going in the first half, ASU still had its opportunities was not able to convert them into goals.
“We missed two great chances inside their (6-yard line),” Boyd said. “We need to be able to put those away, but we also dodged some chances they had.”
The game remained scoreless until the 35th minute when the Huskies (9-3-2, 2-2-1) caught the first big break of the game in the form of a foul called on the Sun Devils in the penalty area. The Huskies were awarded a penalty kick, which Lindsay Elston sent into the back of the net to give Washington a 1-0 lead.
For the Sun Devils, the scenario they saw play out before them seemed like déjà vu all over again [and again].
Two years ago ASU came to Seattle and, despite a 19-6 advantage in shots, lost 1-0 after the Huskies scored on a penalty kick in the first half. In their previous visit, in 2008, Washington won 2-1 in overtime after the Huskies scored the winning goal on a rebound off a penalty kick.
Boyd said it was ‘frustrating’ to have a similar occurrence happen on each of ASU’s last three visits to Seattle.
Down 1-0, the Sun Devils still had plenty of time to find the equalizer and they came out in a more aggressive, attacking mode in the second half. ASU had numerous stretches in the second stanza in which it was able to maintain possession and create opportunities. It also had several other chances coming courtesy of the Huskies themselves as Washington committed 25 fouls on the afternoon, including 13 in the second half. However the Sun Devils were unable to penetrate a Washington defense that was making it very difficult for ASU to get any shots chances in close.
“In the second half we were really coming at them,” Boyd said. “[Washington] was doing a good job of dropping in and guarding the box and so there wasn’t much space. We were forced to have to play around them on the outside. We were trying to find options inside, but there just wasn’t much space. That left us serving balls and we served some great balls, but did not put them on frame.”
Devin Marshall’s first appearance since Sept. 23 helped to spark another Sun Devil foray on Washington’s goal, but once again, the Huskies stood their ground.
A goal by Washington forward Falon Miller in the 81st minute extended the Huskies’ lead to 2-0, essentially putting the game out of reach.
“The second goal decided it,” Boyd said. “As long as it was 1-0, it was a battle and we were going to fight that one down to the last second. It made it very difficult when they scored a second goal with eight minutes left.”
Senior Courtney Tinnin led ASU with three shots, including two shots on goal. Tinnin was one of eight Sun Devils, who recorded a shot in the game.
