ASU soccer fell 1-0 to No. 18 Texas Tech on Sunday in Tucson in the "Cats Classic", snapping its four game win streak and earning a split on the weekend after a 5-0 win over No. 14 Pepperdine Friday.
The No. 22 Sun Devils (4-1) trailed for the first time this season when senior midfielder Caity Heap scored to put the Red Raiders (5-1-2) ahead in the ninth minute.
Heap intercepted a pass from ASU defender McKenzie Berryhill and launched a shot from outside the penalty box that was well out of reach for Chandler Morris.
Star forward Cali Farquharson had five shots Sunday and a golden opportunity in the game's final minute to tie up the score but her shot from 18 feet away sailed over the crossbar.
The Sun Devils outshot Texas Tech 14-8, but never got into the rhythm that has allowed their offense to be so successful in the early going.
"I thought we were off from the very beginning," said ASU head coach Kevin Boyd said. "Our technique was off. That tells me our mentality wasn't fully engaged. We just didn't look like who we are."
Boyd said that he thought his team played better in the second half but it took to long for them to generate what they can do. In the end, it was too late.
"The great thing again about having a lot of veterans, a lot of players that are returning starters is that they've dealt with this before," Boyd said. "It's nothing new to them so they're not going to face surprises."
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Chandler Morris had an opportunity to become the school's all-time leader in shutouts but after allowing her first goal of the season, that record will remain unbroken for at least another week.
The Sun Devils will play Oklahoma State next Friday at 5 p.m. in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
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