ASU Soccer: Upset bid falls short against USC

After scoring the opening goal, ASU soccer conceded two goals in the second half after defender Angela Boyle was sent off with a red card.

ASU soccer battled hard against No. 6 USC, going toe-to-toe with the defending National Champions for 90 minutes. However, they fell just short, losing 2-1.

Arizona State struck first in the 10th minute. Junior forward Jemma Purfield beat a defender off the dribble and ripped a low strike into the side netting of the goal. With a 1-0 lead and an advantage in possession, ASU looked like they were in good shape to get a result.

Right before half-time, ASU’s chances got even better. USC’s Dominique Randall was sent off the field with a questionable red card in the 45th minute. The Trojans were forced to play with just 10 players.

However, things were evened up when Arizona State lost a player of their own. Centerback Angela Boyle stopped a USC fast break with a hard foul, and was immediately sent off the field with a red card. ASU head coach Graham Winkworth was not happy with the call.

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“I don’t believe either red card for either team was a red card,” said Winkworth.

To make matters worse for the Sun Devils, USC’s Tara McKeown had a brilliant finish on the ensuing free kick to tie up the score at 1-1.

“It was just a phenomenal shot, “ said ASU goalkeeper Megan Delaney, who started in place of the injured Nikki Panas.

With both teams reduced to just 10 players, the game opened up. Both teams went up and down with chances to score.

In the 68th minute, ASU’s Jazmarie Mader worked her way into the box and pulled a shot barely wide of the goal.

Less than a minute later, USC’s Amanda Rooney was inches away from getting her foot on a cross that would likely have been a goal if she touched it.

In the 73rd minute, USC finally broke through on a laser in the box from Rooney.

After the goal, USC switched their formation to bunker down on defense. But ASU still came tantalizingly close to knotting up the game.

In the 84th minute, USC goalkeeper Kaylie Collins had a spectacular save on a rip from Purfield. On the ensuing corner, Madison Stark’s volley hit the cross bar.

Close but no cigar has been a theme for Arizona State this season. They have been close to some very impressive results, but can’t seem to seal the deal. Winkworth noted that if just a handful of plays had gone just differently this season, the Sun Devils would have an NCAA Tournament resume.

“If the bar was six inches higher against Ohio State, we would be a top-50 team,” Winkworth said.

But despite the loss, Winkworth is still very proud of how his team played during the game. In fact, he thinks they would have won if not for the red cards.

“Until the ejection, I thought we were in control of the match,” Winkworth said. “We were in control when it was 11 vs. 11.”

Purfield agreed with his analysis. When asked if the outcome would have been different had Boyle not received a red card, her response was that “it absolutely changed the outcome.”

Next: ASU Soccer: Mistakes sink Sun Devils in loss to UCLA

However, both acknowledged that they couldn’t do anything except look ahead to next Friday’s game at Oregon, who is 6-7. It should be a much easier game than the last four ASU played, which were all against top-11 teams.