TEMPE, Ariz. – After starting the season undefeated through non-conference play, the Arizona State soccer team has won just two of its first six Big 12 conference matches. After Thursday, that tally now rises to two out of the Sun Devils last seven matches.
ASU rode a two-game losing streak heading into Thursday, Oct. 16, with losses to West Virginia and Colorado. This marks the first time the Sun Devils have lost back-to-back games all season.
“We always say we don’t focus on getting too high when we win and getting too low when we lose,” ASU head coach Graham Winkworth said.
No. 7 Texas Tech opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a goal from junior forward Taylor Zdrojewski and controlled the majority of the possessions through the first 10 minutes of the game, creating multiple chances leading to six total shots and two shots on goal.
The Sun Devils got one shot off through the first 30 minutes of the game, as they had trouble getting past the 2-4-3-1 formation of the Red Raiders.
“It was such a new team and we had momentum with those players, and now we are losing those players,” senior midfielder Peyton Marcisz said.
Texas Tech extended its one-goal lead to two with a goal from junior forward Storie Sexton to make the score 2-0.
The Red Raiders’ dominance throughout the first half showed in the box score at halftime.
ASU had one shot in the first half with zero shots on goal and one corner won. Senior goalkeeper Pauline Nelles also added four saves in the half.
Texas Tech had 12 total shots with six shots on goal and three corners won as it took a 2-0 lead into the break.
The Sun Devils came out of the break with much more energy than they did in the first half, generating multiple chances through the first five minutes of the second half.
“I think we were a little bit scared after the first half, but we had a halftime talk and we were like we have nothing to lose and we have to be confident,” Marcisz said.
ASU closed the gap in the 51st minute with a beautiful goal from Marcisz.
“Marcisz was the best player on the pitch tonight, and it was unbelievable and she deserved a goal,” Winkworth said.
Marcisz said she pointed more toward luck for Thursday’s goal.
“I kind of just started dribbling and trying to get a shot off and their defense kept backing up,” Marcisz said. “I took a shot kind of where the goalie couldn’t see where I was shooting and I got lucky I guess.”
The Sun Devils topped their first-half total of one shot within the first 15 minutes of the second half, tallying three.
Texas Tech didn’t have the same explosiveness when it had the ball, unlike in the first half, as ASU won multiple challenges to create extra possessions.
“In the second half performance, we already know we’ve got a great spirit, but it shouldn’t be a 45 minute match, it’s a 90 minute game,” Winkworth said.
Sophomore Sierra Bergen netted a beautiful header off a cross into the box from Marcisz to equalize in the 61st minute. This goal came off the back of one of the many Sun Devil counter-attacks.
Pauline Nelles made a pair of crucial saves in the 70th and 72nd minutes to keep the score level heading into the final 15 minutes of the match.
“Pauline is a great goalkeeper and she had another solid game today,” Winkworth said. “She couldn’t have done too much about the goals but she had a good performance.”
However, Zdrojewski scored a brace with a beautiful near-post shot in the 85th minute to give Texas Tech a 3-2 lead. This ended up being the winning goal in the match, giving the Red Raiders the win.
“Two things lost today’s game,” Winkworth said. “Ridiculously poor first half from our standpoint, and a ridiculous offside goal in the last few minutes of the game. “I’m devastated and I’m frustrated to lose a game, but our first half performance deserved a defeat, the second half performance didn’t.”
The Red Raiders had three goals and four assists on 21 total shots and nine shots on goal.
The Sun Devils had two goals and one assist on 10 total shots and five shots on goal. Nine of the 10 total shots came in the second half along with the two goals scored.
Looking forward, Texas Tech stays in the state of Arizona as it travels to Tucson to take on the University of Arizona on Oct. 19. ASU travels to Ames on Oct. 19 for a matchup versus Iowa State.
“We have to get on with it and just hold our heads up and just keep fighting,” Winkworth said.