Freshman forward Cali Farquharson dribbles past Kansas defenders in the Sun Devils’ 2-2 draw to the Jayhawks on Sunday. (PHOTO COURTSEY OF STEVE RODRIGUEZ)The ASU women's soccer team ended its five-game road trip this weekend, losing 4-1 to Missouri and earning a 2-2 draw against Kansas.
Junior forward Devin Marshall scored the lone goal for the Sun Devils (1-3-1) against the Tigers (5-0-0), who led 2-0 at the half.
Game time in Columbia was slated for a 4:30 p.m. start, but due to the presence of Hurricane Isaac in the area, the start was moved up to 11:30 a.m.
Coach Kevin Boyd thought the storm affected his team's play, especially in the first half.
“The weather impacted the whole game,” Boyd said. “It made it very sloppy and ugly. It really affected our quality in the first half because we were going into the wind.”
Missouri struck first in the fifth minute on a goal by sophomore forward/midfielder Abi Raymer. With two goals from junior midfielder Dominique Richardson and one from sophomore midfielder Kaysie Clark, the Tigers built a 4-0 lead by the 54th minute.
Marshall's goal in the 61st minute cut the deficit, but the Sun Devils did not have enough firepower to make a comeback.
Regardless, Boyd was not pleased with his team's effort against the Tigers.
“We just played poorly,” Boyd said. “Our back line struggled. We didn't handle their pressure very well.”
The Sun Devils fared better against Kansas (4-1-1), drawing in a highly contested affair.
Kansas took the lead in the ninth minute on a goal from freshman forward Ashley Williams.
The Jayhawks took the lead into halftime, but Boyd thought his team played exceptionally in the first half, despite the absence of leading goal scorer Devin Marshall due to a concussion.
“We played probably our best soccer yet in the first half,” Boyd said. “We thoroughly outplayed them.”
Freshman forward Cali Farquharson converted the equalizer in the 81st minute for the Sun Devils, and fellow freshman Christina Schedel scored a goal on a free kick only four minutes later to put ASU ahead.
The lead did not last long, however, as the Jayhawks struck quickly in the 86th minute on a 40-yard strike from senior midfielder Whitney Berry.
Even with giving up the late equalizer, Boyd was pleased with the outcome.
“A tie against Kansas on the road is not a bad result at all,” Boyd said.
The Sun Devils now return for their home opener this Friday against Houston as part of the Sun Devil Desert Classic.
Reach the reporter at dsshap1@asu.edu
