TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State Soccer controlled much of the match with a one-goal lead, yet it was a second-half save that defined Sunday night’s win 1-0 over New Mexico State.
With the Aggies pressing in the 62nd minute, New Mexico State senior midfielder Meredith Scott ripped a shot on goal. In a highlight-reel stop, senior goalkeeper Pauline Nelles stretched to make a critical save and preserve the Sun Devils’ lead.
The moment injected life into Head Coach Graham Winkworth’s squad.
“That’s what world-class goalkeepers do,” Winkworth said of Pauline Nelles. “She might not have anything to do for 90 minutes, but world-class goalkeepers need to keep their concentration.”
“We can control a game, but if we don’t have a player like Pauli (Pauline), we’re going home very disappointed.”
The shutout marked the 21st of Nelles’ ASU career, inching her closer to former Sun Devil Chandler Morris’ program record of 25.
“I think that’s her 21st shutout as a Sun Devil,” Winkworth said, laughing. “She’s getting close to the record, so hopefully we can get her over that line.”
While Nelles anchored the back, junior midfielder Peyton Marcisz notched the lone goal on Sunday night. Her strike from outside the box in the 23rd minute — her second goal of the season — proved to be the game-winner.
ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL 👏 Peyton with the first goal of the game!
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) September 1, 2025
23’ ASU 1 | NM STATE 0 pic.twitter.com/t4uHSPKTRO
“I was top of the box and when the ball comes out he (Winkworth) says, don’t try to dribble through, because they can counter,” Marcisz said. “Just take a touch and shoot, and that was genuinely what I thought in the moment.”
After two seasons at UCLA, Marcisz has carved out a larger role in Tempe, and it’s paying off for both her and the Sun Devils.
“I think it’s really exciting also seeing, the team chemistry was working well together,” Marcisz said. “It’s not just two people or three people providing all the stats. It’s the whole team really putting it on the back and helping the team win.”
Along with Marcisz, senior forward Cameron Valladares continued her hot streak, assisting on the lone goal of the night. On the season, she now has one goal and five assists for seven points.
“Cam (Cameron) is doing a good job,” Winkworth said. “She’s very dangerous in that wide area. She’s my lover when she goes one-on-one with people and little details that sometimes don’t show up on the statistics board.”
The win moves Arizona State to 4-0-1, with just two goals allowed through five games. Still, Winkworth sees room to grow.
“Most of the game, they were very good in the fact that I thought they controlled the ball in possession really well,” Winkworth said. “I think out of possession, I don’t think we were aggressive enough. I think we were a little bullied at times, so we’ve got to raise the standards there.”
The Sun Devils are back in action at home on Thursday, Sept. 4, taking on Pepperdine, as they look to extend their unbeaten streak to six games to kick off the 2025-26 campaign.
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