Sept. 19, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - Karin Volpe's team-leading fifth goal of the season proved to be the game winner as the Arizona State women's soccer team defeated Cal State Northridge 2-1 on Friday night. With the win the Sun Devils (4-2-2) remained unbeaten in their last four contests.
"Their style was pretty hard to play against," said ASU head coach Kevin Boyd. "I thought in the first half we were boring and predictable, but we came out in the second half and did some pretty exciting things."
The Sun Devils struck first in the game after senior forward Carla Scanniello took a pass from teammate Carly Kallas and placed a shot in the far post that got passed Matador goalkeeper Leah Elliott.
ASU's defense was able to keep the Matadors (5-2-0) in check for most of the contest. However CSUN would catch a break when it was awarded a penalty kick in the game's 58th minute. The Matadors took full advantage of the opportunity as sophomore Katie Fox was able to get her shot passed Sun Devil goalkeeper Briana Silvestri to tie the game at 1-1.
For Silvestri, who earlier this week was named the NSCAA and Pac-10 Player of the Week, it marked the first goal she had given up in her last 418 minutes on the field.
The Sun Devils appeared to be headed to overtime for the second time in as many games when Volpe came through with the game winning goal in the 78th minute. Volpe was able to shake off her defender, stop and send a whistling shot passed Elliott.
"[Karin's goal] was an individual effort," said Boyd. "We'd been creating opportunities all night and she got it. She hit a good, hard shot."
Volpe's goal tied her season total from all of last season (5) when she led the team in goals.
The Sun Devils return to action on Sunday afternoon when they host Michigan at 1 p.m. Fans attending Sunday's match will have the opportunity to meet Hope Solo, goalkeeper from the U.S. Women's National Team, which captured the gold medal at the recent Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She will be signing autographs at halftime.