Nov. 6, 2001
SPOKANE, Wash. - Friday, Nov. 9 - vs. Loyola Marymount University, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 11 - vs. Pepperdine University, Noon
LAST TIME OUT VS. EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: The Gonzaga University women's soccer team (0-12-2) tallied their second 0-0 non-conference tie of the season in double overtime against Eastern Washington University (2-12-1) Wednesday afternoon at Cheney, Wash. The Bulldogs pelted the Eagles defense with 12 first-half shots, finishing with a 20-10 shot advantage. Freshman forward Natalie Hardin who has contributed two of the Zags five goals this season had a shot tagged for the net late in the second half barely saved by Eagles goalkeeper Jonna Melton. Annie Hawkins, Sarah Hawkins, Laura Morin, Claire Whitfield, and Heidi Safadago contributed three shots each for Gonzaga. Bulldog goalkeeper Brooke Longacre made six saves on her way to earning her second shutout of the season. Eagles goalkeeper Jonna Melton collected 10 saves.
LAST TIME OUT VS. UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND: Freshman Pilot Christine Sinclair scored two first-half goals Sunday leading No. 2 University of Portland (14-3-0, 3-2-0) to a 3-0 West Coast Conference victory over Gonzaga (0-13-2, 0-5-0) at Merlo Field. Sinclair, a two-time WCC player of the week scored at 7:12 into the match and after a goal from junior Pilot Betsy Barr in the 28th minute, Sinclair capped Portland's scoring at 37:14. Portland held a 28-5 shot advantage, forcing nine saves from Gonzaga goalkeeper Brooke Longacre. Pilot goalkeeper Cristin Shea collected five saves and the shutout. Sarah Hawkins, Laura Morin, Claire Whitfield, Ashley Pryor and Natalie Hardin all recorded a shot each for the Bulldogs.
BULLDOGS VS. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY: The Gonzaga University Bulldogs (0-13-2, 0-5-0) face the Loyola Marymount University Lions (6-9-0, 2-4-0) Friday for a West Coast Conference tilt at Sullivan Field at 2 p.m. The Lions lead the nine match series 8-1. Last season LMU edged GU 3-2 at Martin Field. Head coach Gregg Murphy is wrapping up his sixth season at the helm of the women's soccer program. The Lions are coming off an all-time program best 2000 WCC season record of 5-2. Murphy's roster boasts two all-conference selections, junior Jill Dobens and senior Erica Florez on offense. Senior Allison Marra and sophomore Laura Trask are the Lions leading scorers with four goals each. Junior Elizabeth Skhal and freshman Kelly Yukihiro share goalkeeping duties and have combined for a .733 save percentage.
BULLDOGS VS. PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY: Pepperdine University women's soccer (10-3-3, 2-3-0) hosts Gonzaga University's (0-13-2, 0-5-0) last West Coast Conference match of the season Sunday at 12 p.m. at Tari Frahm Rokus Field in Malibu, Calif. The Waves edged the Bulldogs 3-2 in double overtime last season, they lead the eight match series 7-1. Fourth-year head coach Tim Ward returns 19 letterwinners and nine starters to the Waves roster. Last seasons leading scorer Lacey Ubaldi returns with junior Kristi Bissonnette to the lead the offense. Bissonnette leads the Waves scoring efforts with 10 goals. Goalkeeper Lindsey Brouillette has posted six shutouts this season. The Waves biggest win in the program's history came Oct. 28 when then ranked No. 20 Pepperdine downed then No. 2 Santa Clara 1-0 in overtime, handing the Broncos their only WCC loss of the season. Pepperdine is ranked No. 23 by Soccer Times.
STILES COMMENTS ON THE PILOTS: The Gonzaga University women's soccer team faced the No. 2 Portland Pilots Sunday. Head coach Shannon Stiles assigned her team some homework before the match "We felt we knew the Portland team pretty well as they are returning essentially the same lineup from last year," said Stiles. "We were able to find marking assignments to try and neutralize some of their most dangerous players, namely Misaki and Barr in the midfield and Christine Sinclair up front." While the offense was unable to convert any scoring opportunities, the defense performed well. "We held Portland to no goals in the second half. Our keeper, Brooke Longacre, is capable of making big saves. She was on top of her game against Portland," said Stiles. "We had a great performance overall in our defensive efforts and we played hard for 90 minutes."
BULLDOGS WRAP UP SEASON WITH LAST TWO MATCHES: The Bulldogs women's soccer squad is 0-13-2 as they head to California Friday to finish out the 2001 schedule. Head coach Shannon Stiles recently commented on the tough season. "When you play with such a young squad, the most difficult part is that there isn't a core of older players to show the younger ones the intensity and heart required to play good soccer," said Stiles. "However, this team has amazing resolve and they just flat out refuse to give up. We have great team chemistry and we are charged up to play our final two regular season matches against LMU and Pepperdine."
