ASU Soccer: Sun Devils fall in close game vs. USC, 2-1

Arizona State (4-7-2, 1-3-1) fell in a heartbreaker against the sixth ranked USC Trojans (10-1-1, 4-0-1) at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon. After leading 1-0 in the first half, the Trojans scored two second half goals to defeat the Sun Devils 2-1.

Jemma Purfield got things started for ASU as she ripped a shot past the diving USC keeper into the bottom corner of the net from just inside the box. Purfield’s fourth goal of the season put the Sun Devils up 1-0 in the 10th minute.

The Sun Devils were able to play tough defense for the remainder of the half, with the help of USC receiving a red card, to go into the break with a lead.

Just 15 minutes into the second half, Tara McKeown scored her fourth goal of the season on a bending free kick from just outside the box to tie the game up for USC. The goal came right after Angela Boyle received a red card of her own to make it 10 on 10.

The Trojans took the lead in the 73^rd minute as they used solid ball movement after a corner kick to find an open Amanda Rooney, who was able to bury it past Megan Delaney, the Arizona State keeper.

Although the Sun Devils seemed to out play USC by putting up nine shots to the Trojans six, they were unable to breakthrough a second time and ultimately fell to USC.

Arizona State made a switch at goalie on Sunday, as head coach Graham Winkworth decided to give Delaney the start over Nikki Panas, the starter of the previous 13 games for the Sun Devils.

Besides the two goals allowed by Delaney, (which were not necessarily her fault), she played well for ASU, as she made four saves.

Arizona State’s next matchup is on the road against Oregon on Friday, October 13^th at 4:00 p.m. MST. Then, the team is off for almost a week before they’re on the road again to Colorado on Thursday.