Playing in its final regular-season game of the year, Arizona soccer (11-7-2, 4-6-1) fell 1-0 to archrival ASU on Friday in Tempe. For the Wildcats, the loss may hurt their postseason aspirations, which will be announced on Monday.
The Sun Devils scored the game’s lone goal in the 21st minute when ASU defender Madison Stark hit a one-timer rocket into the top-right corner of the net, giving Arizona goalkeeper Gabby Kaufman no chance at the save.
ASU nearly doubled its score in the 29th minute, but Arizona defender Hannah Stevens cleared a ball off the goal line after a shot by Moon got past Kaufman.
The second half was back and forth between the two rivals, and Arizona’s best chance of the game came with about 30 seconds remaining. After intercepting a short goal kick by the Sun Devils, Arizona forward Alexandra Doller made a perfect lob pass into ASU’s penalty area, but forward Charlotte Brascia’s shot from point-blank range was right at ASU goalkeeper Chandler Morris.
ASU was then able to run out the clock and secure some revenge for last season’s 2-0 Wildcat victory, which knocked the Sun Devils out of postseason contention.
Statistically, the game was very close, with ASU outshooting UA 15-14 in total shots.
According to the press release, Arizona head coach Tony Amato saw the team create plenty of quality chances, but it just could not convert.
“We’re disappointed in the result,” Amato said. “I thought the first half wasn’t as sharp as we would want. We competed better in the second half, and that’s where those chances came from. We created some chances, and on the day, we didn’t put them away. I know the girls are disappointed in not finishing those chances, but we’ll learn from that and hopefully get another opportunity to be better the next time out.”
Going into Friday’s game, the Wildcats were ranked No. 27 in terms of RPI, a good place to be for a potential first postseason berth since 2005. The NCAA Tournament selection show will take place Monday at 2:30 p.m., but even if the team does not make the field of 64, Amato said he believes the team has made progress in only his second season in Tucson.
“We talk about building a legacy all the time, and it takes one brick at a time, and the girls have done that,” Amato said. “Whether we are in the NCAA Tournament or not, we made another step as a team, as a program, individually — we could go on and on about the progress we’re making. Hopefully, we’re in the tournament, that would be an even bigger achievement. We didn’t get the result today, but we’re hoping Monday we get another shot at it.”
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