SALT LAKE CITY. --- After not picking up a win in six of its last seven matches, the Arizona State soccer team traveled on the road to Salt Lake City to take on Utah Thursday, Oct. 23, night.
The Sun Devils entered this matchup with a 9-4-3 record, while the Utes came in at 7-7-3.
ASU had an early opportunity to take the lead in the fifth minute when senior midfielder Cameron Valladares played a beautiful cross into the box that was misheaded by sophomore forward Sierra Bergen.
Utah continuously got the ball down the left side to senior midfielder Brooklyn Blaylock, but the possession typically ended with the Sun Devils intercepting any cross into the box.
The first half-hour of play saw both teams go back and forth in possession, with the contest evenly matched through 30 minutes. ASU had three total shots and one corner, while Utah had two total shots and two corners.
Utah took control of the game in the final 15 minutes of the first half, adding four shots to its previous total of two as they put constant pressure on the Sun Devils’ backline.
Pauline Nelles made an incredible save in the 40th minute, as she lay out to keep the score level at 0-0 headed into the halftime break.
Utah had six total shots with one shot on goal and four corners in the first half of play.
ASU had four total shots with zero shots on goal and two corners.
Utah came out of the break and continued where it left off in the first half by applying even more pressure on the backline of the Sun Devils, getting off eight total shots within the first 20 minutes of the second half.
ASU put the pressure on the Utes in the 60th minute, getting the ball deep into the penalty box and taking two shots, including one that hit the post and kept the match level at 0-0.
Nelles totaled her fifth save of the night in the 71st minute as she stretched out to save a low-driven shot from senior forward Ali Swensen to keep the game tied.
ASU received a corner kick in the 82nd minute, and Sierra Bergen connected on the back of the delivery to net the first goal of the game to give the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead.
The Utes went into full attack mode in the final minutes of the game, taking three total shots in the final five minutes to try and salvage a tie.
Nelles made one final clutch save in the 90th minute, bringing her total to eight on the night, to give ASU the win 1-0.
Utah finished the game with 22 total shots and eight shots on goal with eight corners and eight fouls.
ASU finished the game with seven total shots and one shot on goal, with four corners and 10 fouls.
The Utes, now 7-8-3, host Kansas on Sunday, Oct. 26.
ASU, now 10-4-3, will travel back to Tempe to host No.9 TCU on Sunday, Oct. 26.