Oct. 4, 2002

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Darkness was the only winner Friday when Gonzaga University and Saint Mary's College met in a West Coast Conference men's soccer opener on Martin Field.

Brian Voltattorni scored his first goal of the season at 77:13 to give the visiting Gaels (2-6-3, 0-0-1) a 1-1 tie, and referee Frederick Mabbott halted the match after the first of two scheduled 10-minute overtime periods ended with the score still knotted.

"It was the right decision," Gonzaga (2-7-1, 0-0-1) said head coach Einar Thorarinsson, obviously disappointed with the tie. "You don't want someone to get hurt and it was too dark to continue."

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first when Kari Arnason, a freshman forward from Reykjavik, Iceland, scored his second goal of the season at 49:36 after the teams had battled to a scoreless first half. Arnason took a long pass from Connor Quinn, dribbled down the far sideline and drilled a right-to-left shot that caught the far post.

It looked like that goal might hold up until Voltattorni drew the Gaels even. After a hand ball violation against Gonzaga, Jon Bernal's free kick cross from the right wing found traffic in front of Gonzaga keeper Mike McCarthy and Voltattorni, positioned at the near post, got the deflection for the goal.

The Bulldogs held a 19-10 shots advantage, although several of the Gonzaga shots were of the long-range variety. SMC keeper Aaron Valdez and McCarthy each had five saves.

The first half was played in a steady rain, with intermittent rain falling throughout most of the second half before subsiding.

Gonzaga will be idle until Oct. 20 when Santa Clara University visits for the second of three straight matches to end the home season. The University of San Francisco comes to town Oct. 25 for the home finale.

The Gaels remain in the Pacific Northwest, heading to Oregon State University for a Sunday non-league match.