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ASU Soccer: Late Game Heroics Gives ASU the Win vs University of Washington

By Matthew Stolbof

Nov 28, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky against the Arizona Wildcats during the 88th annual territorial cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky against the Arizona Wildcats during the 88th annual territorial cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Arizona State senior midfielder Lucy Lara said after last week’s defeat to Colorado, “That’s the game of soccer. Sometime’s it’s not going to go your way and you have to make it work somehow.”

Well the soccer gods must have listened to Lara because the match between ASU and Washington certainly went Arizona State’s way as the Sun Devils won in double-overtime for their first Pac-12 win of the season and their first victory since September 16.

With five minutes left in double-overtime, Lara made a beautiful pass attempt to sophomore Natalie Stephens in the box, but the ball was won by Huskie defender Taylor Sekyra. As Sekyra attempted to clear it out the box, the ball was deflected onto the back of Sun Devil junior Madison Kmetko and rolled into the back of the net, winning the game for ASU. It was Kmetko’s  second goal of the season.

Here is the game-winning goal by Kmetko:

Overtime would have never occurred if it weren’t for senior forward Larisa Staub. In the 86th minute, Arizona State was down 2-1 to the Huskies after freshman midfielder Kennedy Smith and junior Shannon Simon scored for Washington. Lara passed it to Junior Aly Moon took and took a shot about 10 yards out. The ball was saved and sailed high into the air, landing right next to Staub. With Washington goalkeeper Sarah Shimer still on the ground, Staub was able to net the easy tap-in goal and tie the game up.

Here is Staub’s late goal to tie the game:

https://twitter.com/Pac12Network/status/784203289692823552

One of the keys to ASU’s victory was the first half. Over the last few weeks, the Sun Devils were struggling to make any kind of impact in the first 45 minutes. Things were different against the Huskies, even though they only had 2 shots in the first half. In the 28th minute, Lara gave a through ball to Moon who was able to cut inside the box, place the ball on her right foot and score her second goal of the season. The victory gives Arizona State a 1-2-1 record in the Pac-12 and a 6-4-2 record overall.

Related Story: Arizona State Sun Devils Men’s Ice Hockey Season Preview

ASU’s next game is Sunday in Pullman, Washington when they play Washington State. Kickoff will be at 11 a.m and can be seen on Pac-12 Arizona.