Sun Devil Soccer unable to generate any goals in Sunday’s loss at Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. – For the first time this season, the Sun Devil soccer team was unable to find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss at Oregon on Sunday.
 
For the Sun Devils (8-5-1, 0-4-1 Pac-12), it was the fourth straight contest in which they were defeated by a single goal. Two of those instances included last week's losses against current No. 11 USC  (2-1) and current No. 3 UCLA (4-3 in OT), both games in which ASU had the lead: 1-0 vs. USC and 3-1 vs. UCLA. The three goals ASU scored against UCLA were more goals than the Bruins allowed in their other 11 games coming into Sunday's action.
 
The Sun Devils had statistical advantages of 11-6 in shots and 8-1 in shots on goal against the Ducks (8-1-4, 3-1-1). Oregon's only shot on goal resulted in the only goal of the game by Kess Elmore in the 34th minute.
 
ASU came into the game 28th in the nation in goals per game. Prior to Sunday's game the Sun Devils had scored at least one goal in every game and scored multiple goals eight times. On Sunday, the Sun Devils forced Oregon goalkeeper Leah Freeman to make eight saves. 
 
"Congratulations to Oregon. They found a way to win and if you want to have a successful season that is something you have to do," ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said. "Once again we played very well. We outshot our opponent and hit the target eight times to one and we managed to lose 1-0. I feel like a broken record because we control a lot of matches and ultimately lose the game in both penalty areas. I think we defended well throughout the match but ultimately we made one mistake and that gifted Oregon a goal. 
 
"The team worked extremely hard and I'm pleased with that. I'm pleased with a lot of the football we played and all the chances we have created and I'm proud of the team and will continue to work hard and focus on the next one. Ultimately, you have to put the ball in the back of the net and limit the mistakes we make at the other end. All in all, it was another strong performance but lacked a final touch."
 
Nicole Douglas, who came into Sunday's game as the national leader in total goals (14), led ASU in both shots (3) and shots on goal (2). Also recording shots on frame were Alexia Delgado, Jayda Hylton-Pelaia, Keri Matthews, Jazmine Wilkinson, Isabel Dehakiz, Cori Sullivan and Olivia Nguyen.
 
Defenders Lieske Carleer, Callie Darst and Lauren Kirberg played all 90 minutes. The trio combined with Hylton-Pelaia, Kiki Stewart and Tahlia Herman-Watt to allow Oregon just the single shot on goal.
 
The Sun Devils are currently in the middle of a stretch in which they are playing four of five games on the road. The only home game of those five contests takes place on Friday (7 pm MST) when the Sun Devils host Washington State. The game can be seen via ASU live stream: https://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university-2.