TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sophomore forward Cali Farquharson scored the game-winning goal in the 102nd minute, earning the Arizona State women’s soccer team a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Utah in double overtime Sunday.
The Sun Devils (9-7-2, 4-4-2 Pac-12) were honoring their seniors at Sunday’s match against the Utes (9-4-6, 5-3-2 Pac-12). In front of a crowd of 715, Devin Marshall, Jasmine Roth, Holland Crook, Blair Alderson, Rachael Ritter, and Kaitlyn Pavlovich took the field at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium for the last time in their collegiate careers.
“I think that all of us were just like, 'Leave it on the field.' It’s our last time playing on this field,’” said Pavlovich, who scored the game-tying goal for ASU in the 87th minute. “We had the momentum going in our favor, and we took advantage of it.”
Added ASU coach Kevin Boyd: "I’m really happy with the team. I didn’t think our soccer was great -- it was about our character. We went down 1-0, and came back and tied it with three minutes left. Then we found a way to win it in overtime. We haven’t come from behind and won a game yet this year. We came from behind and tied Friday night. It’s good to come from behind and win one.”
Despite the match’s exciting finish, it featured a slow offensive start for both teams, as ASU outshot Utah just 4-2 in the first half. Sophomore forward Sara Tosti had an opportunity to put one on the board for the Sun Devils midway through the half, dribbling wide right past two defenders to get a wide-open shot on net, but she sent it just wide right.
With neither team able to find the back of the net, the game headed into halftime tied at nil.
Early in the second half, Utah midfielder Allie Wisner had a point-blank opportunity, but ASU goalkeeper Chandler Morris came up with a tremendous save, keeping the Utes at bay. Morris had three saves for the afternoon.
Wisner struck again midway through the second half—this time, finding the back of the net. Forward Jill Robison played the ball through to Wisner, who sent the ball just over Morris’ fingertips to give the Utes a 1-0 lead.
Facing the prospect of dropping its final home game of the season, ASU answered back with three minutes remaining in regulation. Ritter took the corner kick, sending the ball high and to the far right post. Pavlovich headed the ball just past Utah goalkeeper Lindsey Luke, tying the game at 1-1.
“It felt great,” Pavlovich said of her second goal of the weekend. “Rachael Ritter played an amazing ball in. Being a defensive player, my mindset is ‘clear it high and out.’ But that’s not necessarily what you want to do on offense. That’s what we worked on this week, and obviously it paid off.”
Said Boyd: "Kaitlyn has been putting her head on the ball so well on set pieces. We spent some time this week just concentrating on her literally heading the ball into the ground, and she got a goal a game from it this weekend. It’s outstanding for her, especially on senior weekend, for her to get that. It’s got to feel good. She must be really happy.”
After a scoreless first overtime, Farquharson scored the game-winning goal in the 102nd minute. Intercepting a pass from a Utah defender that was intended for their keeper, Farquharson had an empty net and a wide-open shot from 18 yards out.
“I knew she was going to pass it back to (the keeper), so I just followed her pass and shot it,” said Farquharson. “I knew it was going in.”
ASU has just one regular-season game remaining, that a Territorial Cup match in Tucson against Arizona on Thursday at 2 p.m.
“It’s going to be an intense game,” said Pavlovich. “Rivalry games always are. We’re just going to take care of it as best as we can. It’s probably one of the most intense games that we play, because everyone is playing for pride. Everyone comes out playing their best.”
