TEMPE – Frustrated with their heads down, Arizona State soccer players looked disheartened going into halftime down two goals to No. 11 Texas Tech.
The Sun Devils lost 3-2 to the Red Raiders in a nail-biter at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on Thursday evening, adding to their three-game losing streak.
Texas Tech pressured the ASU back line with quick passes and nifty moves that penetrated the defense. In the fourth minute, Texas Tech junior forward Taylor Zdrojewski dribbled past two defenders at the top of the 18-yard box and scored to the left side of the net past ASU senior goalkeeper Pauline Nelles’s late dive.
“We had to take a risk defensively by stepping our fullbacks to (Zdrojewski), which meant we were left one v. one in the center back position,” Arizona State coach Graham Winkworth said. “She won that one v. one battle.”
The Maroon and Gold struggled to maintain possession while defending in their own half for the first 45 minutes.
The game statistics told the story of the first half: Texas Tech’s 12 shots to Arizona State’s one.
The conference leaders continued to frustrate the Sun Devils, scoring a second goal in the 30th minute. 2024 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and graduate student defender Macy Blackburn crossed the ball into the box beyond the Sun Devils’ last defender for a 10-yard finish by junior forward Sierra Sexton.
A late clock stoppage in the first half left fans confused until ASU junior goalkeeper Olivia Herrera entered the pitch in the 40th minute. Herrera, Nelles’ backup, played as a left winger with a new jersey number, No. 2.
“I ran out of field players because I was frustrated with the players’ performance, so I subbed everybody (except Arizona State junior midfielder) Peyton (Marcisz),” Winkworth said.
Halftime seemed to ignite a fire within the team. The first 45 minutes looked like a completely different game than the second half.
In the 50th minute, Marcisz scored a goal from outside of the 18-yard box, catching Texas Tech senior goalkeeper Faith Nguyen off guard.
“I took a shot where the goalie couldn’t see where I was shooting, and I got lucky,” Marcisz said.
The Maroon and Gold continued to apply pressure, swinging the ball around while looking for an open shot.
In the 60th minute, senior midfielder/forward Cameron Valladares crossed the ball into the box for a picturesque header finish by sophomore midfielder/forward Sierra Bergen.
DID SOMEBODY SAY TIE GAME 😮💨 Sierra with the equalizer to put the Sun Devils even with the Red Raiders!
— Sun Devil Soccer (@SunDevilSoccer) October 17, 2025
60’ ASU 2 | Texas Tech 2 pic.twitter.com/pd3lpwJSV9
Both teams vied for possession in the second half. The score remained 2-2 until Zdrojewski nailed a late 84th-minute goal into the net’s right side. Thus, giving the Red Raiders a 3-2 lead and the win.
Similar to the past two weekends, the Sun Devils will be on the road. This time, for a quick turnaround game against Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, on Sunday. Kick off will be at 11 a.m. MST.
“It shouldn’t be a 45-minute match,” Winkworth said. “It’s a 90-minute game, so hopefully Iowa State will see a 90-minute performance from us.”
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