LOS ANGELES – The Arizona State women's soccer team was not able to make an early advantage stand up as USC scored two goals in the second half to come back and claim a 2-1 win on Friday.
Although the Sun Devils (4-7, 0-4 Pac-12) were outshot 20-11 by the Trojans (8-4-1, 3-1), they created a number of dangerous chances that nearly turned into goals. For the first time since they led 2-1 in a 3-2 loss at Oklahoma State on Sept. 18, ASU led after scoring in the 23rd minute on Friday. Unfortunately the Sun Devils were not able to hold that lead as the Trojans took advantage of a Sun Devil defense that was beset by injuries during the game.
For the first time since the aforementioned loss to Oklahoma State, the Sun Devils had senior forward and leading scorer Cali Farquharson back on the field. Farquharson, who missed ASU's last four games due to injury, started the game and her presence immediately provided a lift to her teammates.
The game's first goal nearly came in the eighth minute as sophomore Madison Stark, coming up from the back line, took a pass from Larisa Staub, made a move to momentarily free herself from a USC defender and drilled a shot from 30 yards that hit the crossbar. Less than 30 seconds later, Farquharson weaved her way around the top of the 18 and sent a shot that was blocked by USC's defense.
USC would take the game's next three shots over the ensuing 10-plus minutes, but did not get any of them on frame.
A heads up play by senior defender McKenzie Berryhill helped produce the game's first goal. As she dribbled close to midfield, Berryhill spotted teammate Sara Tosti with a precise pass that Tosti gained possession of at the 18 before connecting on a shot that found the upper right post to give ASU the 1-0 advantage.
“Kenny played a great ball into Tosti who got it, cut inside and roped a far post ball that went in,” ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said of the play. “It was a great shot and one that she is capable of hitting. “
The Sun Devils were able to hold the Trojans at bay for the rest of the first half despite being on the wrong end of an 11-4 shot count. Although they did not give up any goals in the first half, the Sun Devils did not come out of the first 45 minutes unscathed. In the 33rd minute, Stark was injured in a collision near ASU's goal that caused her to miss the remainder of the contest.
The Trojans took advantage of a lapse in ASU's backline organization in the 48th minute as USC's Tamara Mejia got free inide the 18 where she took a pass and pushed the ball just outside the goal area where she connected on a crossing shot that tied the game at 1-1.
Farquharson, who led ASU with three shots, including two on goal, nearly got the lead back for the Devils in the 57th minute when she took possession of the ball 35 yards away from goal and maneuvered her way inside the box where she let go of a crossing, rolling shot that took a diving effort from USC goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme to keep from going into the net.
USC would break the tie in 65th minute when an ASU miscue resulted in a one-on-one situation for the Trojans. USC's Hailey Hite would make the most of the opportunity, scoring what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
“It was like we were content to just defend when we were up 1-0 and you can't do that against good teams,” Boyd said. “We defended until we were down 2-1. And then when we were down 2-1 we woke up and started playing again.”
After USC took the lead, ASU got a few opportunities on USC's end of the field, but the Sun Devils were only able to get off two shots in the last 20 minutes of the game. It was during that period that the Sun Devils got another scare as Berryhill left the game due to injury in the 71st minute. Fortunately for ASU she was able to return to the game in the 80th minute.
The injuries to Stark and Berryhill were the latest for the Sun Devils. Prior to Friday's game Farquharson had missed four straight games for ASU. Last Friday against Stanford, the Sun Devils lost starting senior midfielder Tommi Goodman for the year with an ankle injury. Two days later against Cal sophomore forward Aly Moon was forced from the game early in the second half following a collision with Cal's goalkeeper.
“When things are going against you they tend to steam roll sometimes,” Boyd said. “We are taking multiple injuries to go with our hardships.”
The Sun Devils return to action on Sunday (1 p.m.) when they play at UCLA in a game that can be seen live on Pac-12 Networks.
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