For Kierra Blundell, the moment had been brewing for over a year.
After winning Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in her first season with the Sun Devils, her sophomore stint was marred by injuries. She played in only six games, failing to score a single goal.
After the lost season, the junior forward remained hungry to return to her previous star form. She had her chance Friday when ASU soccer met Utah at home for the Big 12 opener.
"When you're injured and on the side, it's really hard to get within the team," Blundell said. "To be with my buddies again and having fun means a lot to me."
So when the ball fell to her, with her team needing an insurance goal, she didn't hesitate.
She drove quickly from the left sideline toward the center of the field, her powerful strides keeping distance between her and the defense. When she lifted her head, nearly 30 yards away from goal, she said there was only one thought on her mind.
"I saw an opening," Blundell said. "Once I saw the defense on their heels … I knew I could shoot it, and that's what I did."
Blundell's shot curled away from Utah goalkeeper Anna Solomon and nestled into the top left corner.
For the Sun Devils, the goal gave them the cushion they needed to secure a 3-1 victory.
The strike signified a statement for Blundell — that she's returned to form.
For ASU, it could provide the attacking spark the team has been looking for. They've built an identity around their physical defense. In their conference opener, Blundell and the attack proved capable of being the difference.
"I'm just glad KB's back here," Head Coach Graham Winkworth said. "It's lovely to have her back, particularly tonight. I thought she was fantastic."
Defense remains ASU's identity. In a scrappy game against the Utes, in which possession was nearly 50-50, the Sun Devils rarely gave up attacking opportunities in open play.
The lone goal for the Utes came from a corner. All five goals the Sun Devils have conceded have come from set plays.
"It was just our mentality through it all, making sure we're staying strong, falling back to our roles, knowing our roles and encouraging each other to keep on going," said freshman defender Mya Angus.
With neither team able to establish sustained possession, ASU's midfield served a significant role. Graduate student and team captain Peyton Marcisz and junior Ella Kettles set the tone, playing 90 and 87 minutes, respectively.
In those minutes, the two brought a physical edge to the Sun Devils. They limited the Utes' ability to build sustained attacking possession while giving ASU the composure to control the ball themselves.
"Peyton was running the show," Winkworth said. "The first 25 minutes was some of the best soccer since I've been here."
The midfield's ability to control the tempo was crucial in their response to conceding a goal. After the Utes tied the game in the 36th minute, the Sun Devils maintained command.
The response was instant. Six minutes after conceding, two substitutes combined for a goal. Senior midfielder Miki Hayashi delivered a corner to the back post, where sophomore forward Bela Puccinelli was waiting to pounce.
The 5-foot-10 Brazilian leapt into the air, her cushioned header floating back across the goal before finding the back of the net. Puccinelli came on just two minutes before putting the Sun Devils back in front.
"We've got a good squad, and we're going to need that squad as the season goes on," Winkworth said. "They're very team first."
Their cohesion allows them to respond to adversity. Blundell's return to form has mirrored the resilience Winkworth has seen throughout his team.
That resilience was evident from the start against the Utes.
In the 11th minute, Angus received the ball with space to drive. She carried the ball past the defense before looking into the 18-yard box. She spotted Blundell making a darting run and whipped the cross into her path.
Blundell met it with venom, powering a header to the near post — her first in a two-goal declaration.
"I love the fact that KB was rewarded with a goal," Winkworth said. "I know she scored a blinder in that second half, but that goal earlier in the game … I loved that goal. It was beautiful."
The Sun Devils already know what they can get from their defense. It's what led them to a narrow 1-0 victory over LSU. It's the reason they earned a point against Texas. It's what kept them alive facing now No. 7-ranked North Carolina.
Against Utah, Blundell showed she could provide something else — an attacking threat capable of changing the game. Her return could give ASU the missing piece to make their mark in conference play.
Edited by Alex Swift, Carsten Oyer and Sophia Keeling.
Reach the reporter at jakobarnarsson@gmail.com.
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