ASU Soccer: ASU Struggles Against UCLA

If you can’t keep control of the ball, you’re not gonna win. That’s what what happened to the Sun Devils tonight as Arizona State fell to the UCLA 2-0 in their first game of Pac-12 play.

Arizona State hasn’t beaten the Bruins in the last 16 years.

Straight from the start, Arizona State had trouble controlling the ball, giving up a corner kick in just 30 seconds of play. Things wouldn’t take long for the Bruins to get rolling, a team that leads the Pac-12 in both goals and assist this season, as freshman Jessie Fleming netted one in the back of the net off a cross by senior forward Darian Jenkins in the fourth minute of the match.

The Canadian midfielder was still hungry for goals as Fleming was on the attack again in the 8th minute. From about 30 yards out, Fleming shot a screamer upper 90 for her second goal of the night. Fleming now has 7 goals in 6 appearances this year.

Most of the action for UCLA occurred in the first 20 minutes of the game. Once they sustained their lead, they controlled play and were able to hold on to the lead.

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Sustaining their lead can be credited to their freshman Teagan Micah. Last week’s Pac-12 goalkeeper of the week had 5 saves in her shutout performance, all of which came in the second half of play.

“We looked very nervous.,” said ASU coach Kevin Boyd

UCLA’s improved their record to 7-2-0.

Right out of the gate, Arizona State struggled to maintain possession. For most of the first half, the Sun Devils couldn’t even get the ball on UCLA’s side.

Defensively, Devyn Kelsey and the rest of ASU’s defense struggled to maintain the left side, allowing Fleming’s first goal to occur.

Arizona State were more aggressive in the second half shooting the ball 13 times with 5 of them on target.

Freshman Emma Malsy had a great performance overall. The 2 goals that Malsy conceded could be blamed more on the defense than herself. The 2 scores were placed in very tough spots of the net that any goalkeeper would have trouble saving. Malsy finished the night with 6 saves.

The closest the Sun Devils came to scoring was in the 69th minute. On a corner kick, junior forward Jessica Raybe was able to head the ball towards the net. Unfortunately for ASU, the ball went off the left post.

ASU had another chance in the 80th minute when a foul gave senior midfielder Lara Lucy an opportunity to take a free kick just outside the box. Lucy had skied it 20 yards high for another failed opportunity.

Arizona State is now 5-3-1 on the season.

Related Story: ASU Volleyball Recap

Their next Pac-12 match will be against the Utah Utes in Tempe. Kickoff will be at 4:30 p.m.