The Sun Devils came out hot early, forcing K-State to play catch-up for the rest of the afternoon.
The Wildcats fell behind by two goals in the opening 22 minutes but settled into the match and controlled much of the final hour, outshooting Arizona State 16-10 and forcing goalkeeper Kennedy Zorn to make a career-high nine saves. However, K-State could not find a breakthrough despite nine shots on target and fell 2-0.
“It took us about 35 minutes to get into the soccer game, and that’s way too long,” head coach Colleen Corbin said. “ASU outplayed us for sure, at least in the first 35. They were opportunistic with the moments that they generated, and they capitalized. To me, that’s the story of the game.”
Arizona State opened the scoring in the ninth minute after a K-State loose-ball giveaway in the penalty area. Midfielder Peyton Marcisz pounced on it and fired a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner to give the Sun Devils the lead.
Three minutes later, Arizona State forward Bella Puccinelli suffered a head injury from a Maddie Sibbing clearance ball and was carted off the field following an extended stoppage.
When play resumed, Arizona State doubled its lead in the 22nd minute. Marcisz threaded a through ball to forward Kierra Blundell, who slotted her finish into the lower-left corner for the Sun Devils’ second goal.
The Wildcats began to find their footing after the second goal, creating a string of quality chances late in the first half and forcing multiple saves from Zorn.
K-State carried that momentum into the second half, controlling possession for long stretches, keeping the ball in the attacking third, and limiting Arizona State’s opportunities. Corbin said she was pleased with the consistent offensive pressure in the second half.
“I think we generated enough chances to win the game,” Corbin said. “We got ourselves in dangerous areas enough to win the game. But that’s not how the game goes. The better team doesn’t always win. The team who generates the most chances doesn’t always win.”
In the 72nd minute, with K-State pushing for a goal, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) became involved for the sixth time in the Wildcats’ season so far. K-State midfielder McKinnan Braswell made a diving challenge in the penalty box that, after an Arizona State challenge, was ruled a penalty.
Looking to extend the lead, Blundell stepped to the spot, but goalkeeper Sibbing dove to her right and denied the attempt. It was Sibbing’s second penalty save of the season after her similar save against Nebraska, and it kept the Wildcats within striking distance.
“It was a stellar save,” Corbin said. “Maddie’s a stellar goalkeeper. The message to the team after that is that you need to use that moment and leverage that and generate goals and go get yourself back in the game.”
The penalty save energized the Wildcats, who kept pressing for a breakthrough. However, Zorn remained the difference-maker, preserving the shutout as Arizona State held on for the road victory.
“Defensively, I didn’t think we were good enough at all in the first half,” Corbin said. “I think we changed and adapted and we were better in the second half, but against quality opponents in one of the best conferences in the country, you don’t have the luxury of playing one good half of soccer.”
K-State will try to take that second-half momentum on the road to Provo, Utah against a BYU team receiving national votes in the IWSOC coaches poll.
“BYU is a really good team,” Corbin said. “Every team in this conference is a really good team, and that environment is one of the most challenging environments to go and play on the road in. Our identity is going to have to be there, and the soccer hopefully will follow. Our grit, defensive presence, physical mentality — all of that has to be there.”
The matchup against the Cougars will kick off at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, and ESPN+ will televise the match.
