West Virginia Set Pieces Spoil Soccer’s Big 12 Home Opener
Sun Devils suffer first home defeat of the season against Mountaineers
TEMPE – Sun Devil Soccer allowed two goals on corner kicks in a 2-1 loss to West Virginia on Thursday night in the Big 12 home opener at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
Arizona State (6-2-3, 1-2-1 Big 12) fell behind in the 12th minute as West Virginia (8-2-1, 4-0-0 Big 12) got a goal from Gianna Koss. Annika Leslie delivered the ball into the penalty area on a corner kick where it found the left foot of Koss for a chip into the goal.
The Sun Devils quickly responded in the 13th minute when Enasia Colon found Kierra Blundell at the top of the six-yard box with her service on a free kick. Blundell then slid a shot inside the left post to tie the game at 1-1 with her eighth goal of the season.
Things remained level until the 34th minute, when WVU would find the game's final tally, with Ajanae Respass heading a corner from Leslie into the goal.
ASU stayed in the game behind a strong performance from Pauline Nelles in goal. The junior keeper finished with six saves, including several difficult stops on solid scoring chances from the Mountaineers.
West Virginia ended the night with a 19-5 edge in total shots. ASU had a shot at the lead in the 24th minute when Cameron Valladares put a shot on frame that was tipped by the keeper off the crossbar and out. The Sun Devils would only get one more shot the rest of the evening.
With their six-game home unbeaten streak coming to an end, ASU will look to start a new streak on Sunday when they host Cincinnati at 6 p.m.