ASU soccer fell 1-0 to Colorado on Sunday at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium — a game that saw plenty of rain and controversy.
The Sun Devils (5-4-2, 0-2-1 Pac-12) took on the Buffs (9-3, 3-0 Pac-12) in a battle that was decided by a free kick a minute before halftime.
As rain relentlessly bounced off the turf at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium, the announcer’s voice echoed over the crowd telling fans and players one minute was left in the first half.
Within seconds, a collision occurred between junior defender Madison Stark and senior defender Mckenzie Grossman. The two knocked heads, which left both laying on the ground and in need of medical assistance. Stark was able to get up on her own, but Grossman had to be carted off the field with a bloody towel pressed against the left side of her head.
What ensued next was pure confusion for fans, coaches and bystanders alike. When play resumed, the referee denoted that ASU had committed a foul on Colorado and gave the Buffs a free kick on top of the 18-yard box.
“At first he said drop ball, then he said no its actually a free kick and we were just in awe,” Lara said.
Freshman midfielder Taylor Kornieck took the kick for Colorado and blasted a shot right past the ASU wall and freshman goalkeeper Emma Malsy. The Buffs took the lead 1-0 heading into halftime.
Taylor Kornieck scored early to secure @CUBuffsSoccer its W -- and the @opusbank #12Best Moment!https://t.co/TX2K0SY3nT
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) October 3, 2016
Head coach Kevin Boyd said he thought the referee was setting up plays ranging from a drop ball to a free kick for ASU, but never imagined it would be a free kick for Colorado.
“There was nothing in there other than our two players hitting each other,” Boyd said. “He overruled everything and gave them a set-piece that they drove into our goal.”
In the first half, the Sun Devils took only two shots on goal. Redshirt senior midfielder Lucy Lara said the weather conditions didn’t effect her team’s play at all.
“I think we should have taken more shots because the grass was so wet,” Lara said. “Our mentality was just get in the box because our strength hasn’t been shooting outside the 18-yard box.”
Boyd said he wants his team’s shots to be more dangerous, and that’s why the Sun Devils took less of them.
“Our total shot number may go down, but the quality should go up,” Boyd said.
At halftime, the Sun Devils were visibly aggravated with the first half results. Boyd said his team was angry at the referee, but that they needed to channel that anger.
“That anger at the ref wasn’t going to benefit us,” Boyd said. “Our point was, lets focus on where it needs to go because we can’t change it now.”
Sophomore forward Natalie Stephens said her team just needed to refocus after a disappointing first half.
“We tried to not let it get in our heads because we just wanted to keep pushing forward,” she said.
ASU couldn’t find the wherewithal to score in the second half, even after some clutch shots by junior forwards Jazmarie Mader and Jessica Raybe along with Stephens. The Sun Devils finished out the game with 10 shots and six on goal, which Boyd said is a big improvement.
It wasn't enough, however, as ASU lost to Colorado 1-0 and still remain winless in Pac-12 play.
“I think it was two even teams and it should have been a 0-0 game,” Boyd said.
ASU will now head on the road to play University of Washington on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Reach the reporter at kcvalen1@asu.edu or follow @kvalenzuela17 on Twitter.
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