Women’s Soccer Draws with Arizona State, 1-1Women’s Soccer Draws with Arizona State, 1-1

Women’s Soccer Draws with Arizona State, 1-1

by James Warnick
Box Score

ORLANDO – Senior Annika Huhta found the back of the net for the first time in her career en route to leading UCF women’s soccer to a 1-1 draw against Arizona State on Sunday afternoon at the UCF Soccer Complex.

The Knights move to 3-1-3 overall and 1-0-1 in Big 12 play with the draw, while ASU moves to 6-1-3 overall and 1-1-1 in league play after Sunday’s result.

“I’m proud of the team. I thought that we battled in possession and had some really good moments. Out of possession, I thought that our structure was good, and our mentality was strong as well. Sometimes football doesn’t go your way,” head UCF coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak said. “Arizona State is a really good team, and I appreciate the way that they play. We have similar philosophies, so it was fun game to coach and a hard-fought battle.”

UCF had an opportunity to score in the 18th minute, as Daniella Chung fed a ball through the box to a streaking Chloe Netzel, but her shot was saved to keep the game scoreless.

With the contest still scoreless in the 22nd minute, Huhta received a pass about 25 yards out and was able to strike it from distance off a deflection and into the net for the first goal of her collegiate career. The goal was assisted by Honoka Hamano and Mia Asenjo and scored with her left foot to give the Black and Gold a 1-0 advantage.

The Sun Devils didn’t waste much time answering, however, as Enasia Colon received a pass in the 25th minute and managed to drive through traffic at the top of the 18 and score in the right side of the net to deadlock the score at 1-1.

With the match all tied up at the break, both teams had a couple of chances in the second half, but the match ultimately ended in the 1-1 draw.

Offensively, the Knights led the way with 18 shots to just eight from ASU. UCF also led in shots on frame with six compared to four from the Sun Devils.

For the first time in her collegiate career, redshirt freshman Genesis Perez Watson played the full match in goal and finished with a trio of saves and was pivotal in helping lead the Knights to the draw.

The contest marked just ASU’s second trip to Orlando and its first as conference foes.

The Knights will next return to the road for three consecutive matches. UCF will open the stretch at Kansas on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT before playing at Kansas State next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET/noon CT. The Black and Gold will then close the stretch with a contest at West Virginia on Friday, Oct. 4. UCF’s next home match will be on Thursday, Oct. 10 when it welcomes Arizona to town for its annual Space Game.