The ASU soccer team celebrates Kaitlyn Pavlovich’s goal that led to ASU’s 2-1 victory over Oregon on Oct. 21. (Photo courtesy of Rick Morgan)Junior defender Kaitlyn Pavlovich’s first goal of the season kept the ASU soccer team’s playoff hopes alive, as the Sun Devils (7-8-2, 3-4-1 Pac-12) beat Oregon 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Pavlovich’s goal capped off a Sun Devil comeback after ASU fell behind early in the match.
Oregon (7-8-2, 2-5-1) struck quickly and scored first in the second minute, after sophomore midfielder Ryann Davie came out of a scramble to net the ball in the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
ASU coach Kevin Boyd thought the goal was well deserved, based on the Sun Devils’ early play.
“It was a sum of the way we were playing,” Boyd said. “We started the game poorly.”
After Davie’s goal, the Sun Devils dominated play the rest of the first half and equalized the score in the 39th minute, when freshman forward Cali Farquharson took a pass from senior forward Nicki Stone and slotted it past Oregon’s keeper for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.
“I thought we responded really well, and thankfully, we were able to get a goal out of it,” Boyd said. “It was a great goal. Eventually the ball came to Nicki, who played the ball square across to Cali, who hit a one-time ball from 20 yards out right by the keeper.”
After only making three substitutions against Oregon State, Boyd made three substitutions within the first 20 minutes against the Ducks.
“I went to the bench quickly and brought on some older players who could provide leadership and stability,” Boyd said.
Boyd’s tactics came to fruition in the 85th minute when Pavlovich, one of the early substitutions, won the match for the Sun Devils.
Farquharson set up the goal, sending a pass to Pavlovich, who scored the game winner from five yards out for her second career goal.
Boyd was proud of the junior defender and thought her goal was one of ASU’s most crucial of the season.
“Cali beat a player around the corner and served the ball in,” Boyd said. “As the ball was being served around, Kaitlyn stuck out her long leg and toe-poked it by the keeper. It was a big goal.”
Sun Devils tie Oregon State
The match versus Oregon turned into a must-win situation after the Sun Devils earned a well-deserved 1-1 draw Friday night against Oregon State.
The Sun Devils scored the opening goal in the 34th minute when senior midfielder Courtney Tinnin’s corner kick found freshman defender McKenzie Berryhill’s head before going into the back of the net for her first career goal.
“Tinnin drove the ball into the near post, and McKenzie just came into that space and absolutely drilled it into the goal with her head,” Boyd said. “She put it away extremely well.”
The Sun Devils, who were outshot 20-14, were not able to keep the lead, however.
Oregon State junior midfielder Erin Uchacz pulled the Beavers (11-4-2, 3-3-2 Pac-12) back into a tie in the 84th minute when her strike from 40 yards out found the back of the net.
“She just hit the daylights out of it,” Boyd said. “Sometimes you just have to credit the other team for an incredible play, and this was one of them.”
Tinnin was given her second yellow card and sent off three minutes into the second overtime, but the Sun Devils were able to stay firm and leave Corvallis, Ore., with a draw.
“When we play them, typically it’s a battle,” Boyd said. “I think the tie is a fair reflection of the game.”
As for the weekend, Boyd was pleased to come back to Tempe with a win and a draw to keep the Sun Devils’ playoff hopes alive.
“It was a great weekend,” Boyd said. “The Pac-12 is hard. To go on the road and generate points is not easy to do.”
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu
