ASU Soccer: Sun Devils use late push to defeat Cal

Freshmen Nicole Douglas and Alexia Delgado came up big for ASU soccer as the Sun Devils rallied for a 2-1 win at Cal in their Pac-12 opener.

The Arizona State women’s soccer team began Pac-12 conference play looking for their third straight road shutout and fourth overall.

That would be a tall task to overcome as the Sun Devils head in to play against a conference that has five teams currently in the top 25 and 10 of its 12 teams playing over .500. ASU’s first game was a road test against California.

The Golden Bears (4-4-1) would score first in the 26th minute of the game on a corner kick for Emma Westin assisted by Miranda Nild, quickly ending the Sun Devils shutout streak and putting the Sun Devils behind early.

The early goal by the Golden Bears would only mark the fifth goal scored on the Sun Devils this season.

The first half ended with the Golden Bears up 1-0. Both teams ended the half with four shots on goal, a defensive battle for the first 45 minutes of the game.

Coming back in the second half, both teams would need more great defensive play and the Sun Devils (6-2) would search for an offensive attack to come back.

In the 69th minute of the game, that offensive would finally push through as freshman Nicole Douglas would score her sixth goal of her first collegiate campaign.

Following the Douglas goal, the Sun Devils would have multiple chances to take the lead as they placed three more shots on goal in the ensuing ten minutes.

Nicole Douglas would again make her mark on the game with an assist in the 81st minute to fellow freshman Alexia Delgado, her first of the season, giving the Sun Devils the lead and would prove to be the game winner.

The 2-1 victory over California is the first time since 2006 that the Sun Devils have defeated the Golden Bears.

Arizona State will head home to continue Pac-12 play hosting No. 20 Colorado (9-0-1) and Utah (3-5-1) next week.