Oct. 22, 1999

SPOKANE, Wash. - Sufia Wali and Jessica Crothers scored second-half goals and 17th-ranked University of San Diego held off Gonzaga University's upset bid Friday for a 2-1 West Coast Conference women's soccer victory at Martin Field.

The loss snapped the longest winning streak in Bulldogs (6-10-0, 0-4-0) history at three, while USD (12-2-0, 4-0-0) remained perfect in seven meetings with Gonzaga since the Bulldogs joined the WCC in 1993.

The upset-minded Bulldogs scored the first goal of the match at 11:45, Kellie Leaf lobbing a pass from the right sideline toward the goal and Katie Carpenter out-racing all defenders and USD keeper Leila Duren to the ball. Duren came out of the goal, had the ball take a high bounce and Carpenter got behind Duren in the 6-yard box to convert on the wide open net for the 1-0 halftime lead. That would be the only shot the Bulldogs would get in the match as USD held a 25-1 shots advantage, including 18-0 in the second half.

It took the Toreros just 6:10 of the second half to pull even, Gonzaga keeper Gina Legaz ranging out of the goal but Sufi getting the ball past her into the wide open net. The game winner came at 71:47 when Jessica Crothers converted out of a scramble in front of the net on a pass from Kristina Miranda.

"I think we gained some respect today," Gonzaga first-year head coach Shannon Stiles said. "USD is a good team with excellent team speed, perhaps as quick as any team in the conference."

Gonzaga, which had downed Portland State University, Carroll College and Eastern Washington University in its last three outings, is idle until next Friday when the University of San Francisco visits for a 1 p.m. WCC contest. The match will be the final home appearance of the season for the Bulldogs.