TEMPE- The Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0-1) bounced back after a tough draw against Texas, defeating the Buffalo Bulls (2-2) 5-0 on Sunday at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
The Maroon and Gold controlled the first 20 minutes, with more shots (7-4) and corner kicks. (4-0).
ASU would continue its pressure. By the 23rd minute, senior midfielder Miki Hayashi, with an assist from graduate student midfielder Peyton Marcisz, got the goal party started.
Not long after, in the 24th minute, junior midfielder Ella Kettles scored from outside the box into the top corner, assisted by junior forward Sierra Bergen.
In the 36th minute, sophomore forward Bela Puccinelli scored, assisted by junior forward Sierra Bergen and freshman defender Jenna Whinney.
The Sun Devils would grab one more goal before the first half concluded, with a penalty kick in the 43rd minute from Whinney.
The first half was all ASU. With more shots (13-4), shots on goal (6-4), and corners, it sat in the driver’s seat with a 4-0 lead entering the second half.
The second half would start with possession and shots from ASU until a second goal by sophomore forward Bela Puccinelli, with an assist from freshman midfielder Maja Madon and Whinney, made it 5-0.
Sophomore goalkeepers Kennedy Zorn and Izzy Duink both kept the Bulls scoreless. Zorn accumulated 4 saves.
The Sun Devils dominated the Bulls inside 90 minutes, having more shots (25-9), shots on goal (12-4), and more corner kicks (8-4).
ASU’s rotations, alongside its ability to adapt in the heat, helped garner the result on the scoresheet. With a high-pressing attack at the forefront, ASU coach Graham Winkworth ended the day pleased.
“Overall, really happy; it was a good squad effort,” Winkworth said. “We knew we were going to have a heavy rotation in the first half, then figure out what we wanted to do in the second half based upon how the game went. It was hot, and I was asking them to do something that’s not easy in these conditions. After about 10-15 minutes, I thought we got a lot tighter, and we were able to score.”
Winkworth stated that he was happy about the performance of his underclassmen and how they can contribute to winning games early in the season.
“It’s really important because when we are coaching out here, I don’t think about who is a freshman,” Winkworth said. “I’m just playing a team. I don’t even know half the time what year any of them are in when they are on the pitch; they are just soccer players. The fact that they are adapting so quickly is wonderful and much needed.”
One of the players who has adapted quickly is Whinney, who came over from Cambridge, England. Whinney lit up the scoresheet with one goal from the penalty box and two assists.
“It’s very high intensity the whole time,” Whinney said. “In England, you are used to playing 90 minutes, whereas here you come on and off all the time. I think obviously the heat. It is crazy here; that’s been a big thing, but I think I’ve gotten used to it.”
The Sun Devils look to fire the scoreboard once again as they take on LSU on Thursday, August 27, at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m. MST.
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