The freshmen on the Arizona soccer team found a way to give back to the seniors Friday night.

The Wildcats (5-12-1, 2-7-0 Pacific-10 Conference), playing in their fifth overtime game of the season, held rival Arizona State to a close 3-2 loss in overtime on senior night at Murphey Stadium.

Led by freshmen Candice Wilks and Vanesha Bailey, the youngest members on the squad were able to give ASU (10-8-1, 4-4-1 Pac-10) a closer game than last season, when the Sun Devils defeated the Wildcats 3-1.

"It felt really good that we contributed and were a big factor in the game," Bailey said. "I felt bad that we had the chance to come out with the win and that the seniors had to leave 0-7 against ASU when we could have made it happen where they were 1-6."

Wilks gave UA an early 1-0 lead when she rebounded a shot from Bailey.

ASU seemed unable to find a rhythm in the first half but gave UA a different look in the second half.

UA struck first in the final frame when Bailey sent a shot into the goal from 20 yards out, but the Sun Devils would not go down so easily.

ASU's Stephanie Peel broke the shutout and put the Sun Devils on the scoreboard, and teammate Antoinette Marjanovic added a goal of her own to tie the game 2-2.

Neither team could score before the end of regulation, and the game was sent to overtime.

Five minutes into the extra period, ASU's Patrice Feulner scored the game-winner to keep the Sun Devils undefeated all-time against UA.

Despite their loss, the Wildcats' effort did not go unnoticed.

"(ASU's win) was just pure luck," sophomore midfielder/defender Liz Bartlett said. "I don't think that they wanted it more - our hearts were definitely in it - but it happened to not bounce our way.

"During the season, there were games that we lost because we didn't show up, and this was definitely not one of them."

While putting a close on the 2001 season, the Wildcats acknowledged they improved in some areas despite not putting up a high winning percentage.

"In terms of winning and losing, we did slightly better," UA head coach Cathy Klein said. "If there's a team that works harder than ours, I don't know it. If there are kids with more passion, I haven't heard of them. I think our kids gave me everything they had all year."

Wilks concluded her first collegiate season by becoming the team's leading scorer.

The UA freshman had eight goals and three assists for 19 points, and Bailey followed closely behind with six goals and five assists for 17 points.

Friday's match marked the last game for six Wildcats - starters Shannon Monti, Twila Kaufman and Cassidy Guinn and reserves Kristi Lorona, Tiffany Sabado and Katie Winship - all who will either graduate this spring or next fall.

All six seniors will be missed both as players and as friends, Bartlett said.

"We're going to miss them tremendously," she said. "They've not only impacted my life as a player but as a person as well. They've taught me how to grow with the sport, and it's going to be really different not to have them here next year."

Monti said she predicts a great UA program in years to come.

"I'm so excited for the potential of this program and the talent that's here," Monti said. "I feel fortunate to be a part of this program. Granted, it didn't go as we'd hoped, but we're doing better and will continue to grow."