Devils in Detail
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ASU Soccer: Madison Stark’s equalizer leads to 1-1 draw vs. #11 Cal

By Sam Ficarro

TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky performs on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky performs on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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ASU soccer began their four-game run against top-11 opponents Thursday drawing 1-1 versus No. 11 Cal thanks to a 70th-minute equalizer from Madison Stark.

ASU soccer was ready for this stretch.

After defeating Oregon State last Friday, the Sun Devils began a stretch Thursday of facing the four-best teams in the Pac-12 in their next four matches with the quartet all ranked in the top 11 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.

Arizona State got this stretch started on the right foot drawing 1-1 with the 11th-ranked California Golden Bears, who entered the match on a six-game winning streak.

It was Cal’s first draw of the season and ASU’s second.

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After outshooting the Sun Devils 6-3 in the first half, Cal scored the breakthrough goal in the 48th minute from forward Abigail Kim for her fifth of the season.

Kim scored on a ball from over the top of the defense from defender Haley Lukas and beat Panas on a breakaway.

The Sun Devils pressed up the pitch from that point on looking for an equalizer, and they got one from their captain.

Defender Madison Stark scored her first goal of the season in the 70th minute on a loose ball in the box and scoring it from close range to level the match.

The equalizer was the second goal of Stark’s career with the last one coming November 7, 2014 versus Arizona.

Cal pressed up the pitch for the final 20 minutes of regulation, recording six shots, but they were unable to find the back of the net.

Game went to extra time with Cal outshooting Arizona State 4-1 in the two overtime periods, but couldn’t score, ending the match in a draw.

It was a great effort from the Sun Devils coming back on the road to get a result.

Goalkeeper Nikki Panas was busy as Cal outshot the Sun Devils 23-10 for the match with Panas recording six saves.

Next: ASU Soccer: Sun Devils score twice in second half, defeat Beavers 2-1

Next up for Arizona State (4-4-2, 1-0-1 Pac-12) is No. 2 Stanford Sunday in Palo Alto at 1 p.m. PST with the match streamed on the Stanford Live Stream.