ASU Soccer: Sun Devils fall to Hawaii in extra time, 1-0

After 96 minutes of scoreless soccer, Rais Strom-Okimoto of Hawaii (4-4-0) kicked the ball just inside the far post to defeat Arizona State (2-4-1) in golden goal extra time, 1-0.

The goal for Hawaii came amid controversy as it appeared there was a handball by the Rainbow Wahine at the beginning of the play.

“Maybe I had a bad angle, the referee usually has a much better angle, but from his angle there was not a handball in the build-up,” said Arizona State coach Graham Winkworth. “It looked like there was, but there is no excuse, we’ve got to be better."

In the scoreless minutes, Nikki Panas, ASU’s goalkeeper, made nine saves on 20 total shots for Hawaii. Strom-Okimoto led the charge for Hawaii with three shots on goal, including the game winner.

A big part of Panas’s success is her aggressive, “sweep keep” playstyle.

“Ten times I come out, but one time it goes past me. It’s the risk I have to take to help our team win,” said Panas.

This is the fourth overtime game the Sun Devils have played in this year, and hold a record of 1-2-1 when the game goes past regulation time.

“We’ve got to a better job and not pass the ball back to [Panas] 60 times, I’m surprised she’s got any legs left,” Winkworth said.

Although the Sun Devils were defeated, it didn’t seem like they were outplayed at all. They only had one less shot and one less corner than Hawaii. The biggest difference of the game was the disparity in fouls. ASU finished the game with 14 fouls compared to Hawaii’s three.

In the 72^nd minute, Olive Jones, the Sun Devils forward, appeared to be pulled down in the box after out-pacing the Rainbow Wahine’s defensive back. Instead of being awarded the penalty kick, Jones was called with the foul.

“She did get pulled… but you know, sometimes fouls go against you, even though you’re the one pulled,” Winkworth said.

Although things did not go the Sun Devils way, Winkworth stressed there was no excuse for the loss.

“Any overtime game, it’s about who wants it more,” said Arizona State captain Madison Stark. “I think we work hard but we need to be more clinical in front of the net and finish our chances."

The Sun Devils have only scored four goals in the past five games. They look to reverse this trend as they take on Weber State on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium in Tempe.