Coming off of a win in their exhibition game against Cal State Northridge, ASU soccer fell to an overtime goal against Ohio State, losing their regular season opener 2-1.
The Sun Devils started the first half strong, with aggressive defending against OSU’s long switches and spreading the field on offense. However, quick passes from OSU’s junior midfielder Arden Holden and senior forward Sammy Edwards managed to deconstruct Arizona State’s back line putting the Buckeyes up 1-0 six minutes into the game.
The Sun Devils kept up their momentum regardless of the early goal and displayed eager tenacity creating chances off of set pieces and especially using the width of the field. Junior transfer Jemma Purfield played a huge role moving the ball up field for the Sun Devils.
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Alternating between left wing and left back, Purfield was crucial to the offensive movement of the ball. Her ability to hold the ball and box out opponents seemed to be a steadfast factor in both moving the ball up field and preventing it from passing the back line. She also created numerous chances for the Sun Devils on her ability to cross the ball.
“Jemma’s got quality, “ head coach Graham Winkworth said. “She’ll put those balls in all day long. Her ability to cross the ball is exceptional.”
The Sun Devils were able to get on the board after forward Olive Jones headed in a corner from Purfield. Recording the first goal of her collegiate career, Jones’s speed and ability to get to the ball will allow ASU to create chances and improve on their goal numbers from last season.
“It’s always nice for a striker to get the first one and get off the marks, so I’m proud for her,” Winkworth said. “Hopefully that’ll settle her nerves in front of the goal but she’s been banging them away during preseason so I knew it wasn’t gonna take her long to score her first goal of her career.”
Despite exceptional movement on the offense and aggressive defending from defenders like Devyn Kelsey, whose footwork took away numerous opportunities from OSU repeatedly switching possession to the Sun Devils, ASU still struggled to put balls in the net. Even a half field shot from Angela Boyle, at the ten second countdown narrowly missed the upper 90 hitting the crossbar.
“We just lacked that little bit of quality today,” said Winkworth. “We had our chances to win. Six inches lower and we win it in regulation… but I can’t fault the girls on their effort, they worked extremely hard, we just lacked that little bit of quality in the final third and we’ve got to find a way in fixing that in the next few weeks.”
The Buckeyes’ ability to break down the Sun Devil defense on short passes down the middle put them up 2-1 against the Sun Devils seven minutes into overtime, with a through ball sent to the top of the box by sophomore forward Meghan Kammerdeiner.
Next: ASU Soccer: Sun Devils kick off 2017 season versus Ohio State
As they prepare for their match against the Sun Diego State Aztecs, the Sun Devils will need to work on their communication and coverage in the back line to prevent opponents from penetrating their defense.