# #

Lemonade Season Ends in Double OT

by thesundevils.com
May 1, 2021

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Sun Devil Soccer (9-6-2) went toe-to-toe with the No. 9 overall seed Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday morning. Nicole Douglas scored the equalizer in the 87th minute to push the match to eventual double overtime. After 103 minutes of play, the Sun Devils fell, 2-1, in a heartbreaker that concluded their 2020-21 postseason run. 

Both squads put up similar numbers, each notching nine shots and more than five corner kicks apiece. Giulia Cascapera had a day between the pipes, backstopping the ASU effort with five saves which tie for the second-most in a single game this season. 
 

ASU collected the comeback to extend their chances and launch the game into overtime. The equalizing play started with Nicole Douglas' shot that bounced onto the crossbar and landed inside the line. Cori Sullivan ran into the ball, heading it into the back of the net to leave no doubt - the Sun Devils tied the match in the 87th minute. Upon review, the goal was credited to Douglas. It became her 10th goal of the season and 30th of her career which is tied for third in career goals in program history. 
 

The Sun Devils carried the momentum into the first overtime, putting the heat on the Blue Devils' back line, but neither team could break the tie. The match headed into the second overtime, and Duke got a lucky shot in the first three minutes that sealed the victory. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Sun Devils looked to pressure and keep possession early, and the team executed the game plan. Freshman Jazmine Wilkinson notched a shot on goal 90 seconds into play. 
  • ASU looked for success in the counterattack and found openings in Duke's backline. Halfway through the first frame, Jazmine Wilkinson made a run down the right flank, sending a lob pass looking for a final touch in the box but wasn't able to connect with Olivia Nguyen. 
  • Duke got on the board first to take the 1-0 lead.
  • ASU immediately responded as Cori Sullivan took a huge cross looking for Wilkinson, who got a shot off that Duke's netminder barely saved with an outstretched leg. The Sun Devils kept possession in the Blue Devils' zone, eventually reaching another opportunity off of a corner kick that landed too close to the crossbar and out of bounds. 
  • Offensive powers Dai Williams and Olivia Jones entered the game with 11 minutes left in the first half.
  • ASU finished the first frame with two shots and two saves by Giulia Cascapera. 
  • Nicole Douglas got her first shot of the match off at the 60-minute mark, forcing the Duke goalkeeper to stretch out on the far post to secure the ball.
  • Olive Jones saw an excellent opportunity off of a corner kick. The senior could get a rounded kick on it, but it sailed just over the crossbar. 
  • The Sun Devil defense fended off a flurry of pressure from the Blue Devils to keep the score within one. Cascapera came up huge with a reaching save in the bottom left corner.
  • Hungry for the equalizer in the final minutes of regulation, ASU pushed more players to the top of the line. The team found a chance off of another set piece that trickled out of the box. Douglas took a shot from the top that hit the crossbar and landed inside the goal line in the 87th minute. With the score knotted 1-1 after 90 minutes, the match went to overtime.
  • Cascapera stood on her head in between the pipes in the first minutes of OT, making two colossal saves to keep ASU in the match.
  • Jones nearly claimed the game-winner with 40 seconds left in the first OT with a header at the crease, but the game would continue to a second 10-minute OT.
  • Dai Williams took a shot two minutes into 2OT that skimmed just over the crossbar. Duke turned around and scored the game-winner in the 103rd minute. 

A WORD WITH WINKWORTH
Opening Statement
"Today's game, obviously, very disappointed with the result, and it's heartbreaking to lose in the fashion that we lost. It's almost even more heart-breaking because you play against one of the best teams in the country and if you're outplayed and lose the game, it's like: 'we weren't very good, and they deserve the win,' but first I felt that we were not outplayed today and we gave a really strong effort and were unfortunate to lose the match. I do want to congratulate Coach Church, his staff, and all of his players. The guy is a legend in women's college soccer, and we are aiming to be in a position to emulate the type of program that he has. He is consistently bringing his team to the NCAA Tournament and making progress, and that is something that we aim and strive towards as a program as well. Congrats to Coach Church on a well-played game, and hopefully, we can see him and his squad again in the future. I'd like to also thank East Carolina University for their hospitality this week."

On chances that couldn't get completed

"We have to work on being more clinical, and we will. We have some wonderful young players that work extremely hard, so I'm sure in the offseason, they'll be working on crossing and finishing. But to be honest, they've had an incredible year, and I'm proud of them. So it's frustrating to lose a game so close, but at the same time, I don't think that many people gave us a shout going into this game or going into this season. I'm overly proud of the girls while devastated to lose."

On Duke's two goals

"The game had opened up a little bit for both goals. That last one was a midfield player running in from the back post, and we asked Eva, Alexia, and Jaz to play 103 minutes, and tracking those runs is extremely challenging. The players were struggling with cramps and things like that, so it was a challenge. It was just a run at the back post that we just didn't see on both goals. I don't want to focus on one or two things; I'm overall really happy with how we competed... It just wasn't meant to be."

On excitement for fall:

"We return this squad, and we made eight additions that add quality as players, but they're also lovely people that will fit very well into our culture, which is exciting. We added two this spring in Johno and Tahlia, and it's like they've been here for years because it's such an easy group to fit into. These 16 months, we've taken such strides forward since our last season. You're never going to feel good after a defeat, but when you look at the big picture over the last 16 months, I couldn't be more satisfied or proud of this group of players. I do also want to thank the fans that traveled across the country to be here today. The alumni as well were spectacular this postseason. There's been a group that has shown up to the games that live out here, so we're thankful for them. There's been messages, videos, flowers sent sent and it just shows the family that we've got here. A big thank you to all of them it means a lot."

On going toe-to-toe with Duke as a statement for the program:
"It's a statement but it would have been bigger if we got the result, but it is. When people see the result against USC, they can think it's just a fluke but then you get the one against UCLA and Stanford and you win some on the road against quality programs, people can start to realize oh, this isn't just luck. This is a talented group. I thought they did a great job this entire tournament and we matched Duke really well."

 

Related News & Videos