Oct. 23, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. - The final home match of the season for the Arizona State University soccer team and its seven seniors did not end as the team had hoped as No. 10 California scored one second-half goal to secure a 1-0 decision over ASU Sunday at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. The loss dropped the Sun Devils 8-6-3 overall and 3-2-1 in the Pac-10 while the Golden Bears improved to 11-2-2 overall and 4-0-1 in the conference following their sixth shut out in a row.
Cal opened the match with a quick offensive attack that ASU defended nicely, but kept coming at the Sun Devils for a majority of the time to outshoot the hosts, 6-3, in the first half of play. The Sun Devils also were able to work the ball inside the Golden Bear zone, but several shots went wide or high of the mark.
Following the intermission, Cal pushed the attack again and earned a corner kick. On the attempt, the ball was sent into the box and bounced around several times before Chioma Igwe shot the ball. Her shot hit the cross bar and deflected to Sierra Schlesinger who pushed home a shot of her own for the 1-0 lead.
Overall, Sun Devil keeper Kim Bingham recorded three saves in goal while Ashley Sulprizio, the current Pac-10 Player of the Week, made one save on the day.
The match was the final home contest for seniors Kelley Bond, Elizabeth Bogus, Brittany Cooper, Stephanie Ebner, Juanita Lawson, Manya Makoski and Haley Stein.
The Sun Devils travel south to Tucson next weekend where ASU and Arizona will meet for a 7 p.m. contest Saturday night on the Wildcat campus.