Sept. 8, 2002
Nike Soccer Classic Box Scores
Gonzaga 2, Air Force 1
Wisconsin 2, Oregon State 1
SPOKANE, Wash. - Scott Yuska scored two goals and Gonzaga University picked up its first victory of the season 2-1 over the Air Force Academy Sunday afternoon in the final match of the Gonzaga/Nike Soccer Classic.
The win gave Gonzaga 1-1 record and second place in the tournament. The University of Wisconsin won the title with a 2-1 win over Oregon State University, Watson Prather's goal at 84:40 breaking a 1-1 tie. Gonzaga earned second place over OSU by virtue of fewest goals allowed, Gonzaga giving up three goals, the Beavers four. Air Force finished 0-2 in the tourney.
Wisconsin's Nick Van Sicklen was named the Offensive MVP while teammate Joe Anderson was tabbed Defensive MVP. OSU Peter Billmeyer was named the Outstanding Goalkeeper. Van Sicklen scored a goal and had an assist in Friday's 2-0 win over Gonzaga. Anderson was instrumental in the Badgers not allowing a defensive goal in the tournament, the lone tally against them coming on a penalty kick. Billmeyer made 14 saves in two matches, including nine in Friday's 4-2 victory and four in Sunday's 2-1 setback. Both goals against him on Friday came with OSU playing a man short as the result of a red card violation.
Yuska's first goal, and the first of the season for the Bulldogs after being blanked in their first two outings, knotted the match at 1-1 when he dribbled into the middle of the box, passed to Arni Ingi Pjetursson and then took a return feed for the goal at 28:20. The Bulldogs grabbed the lead at 54:16, Yuska taking Mike Herzog's feed and drilling a shot from the right wing. Connor Quinn also picked up an assist, his outlet pass sending Herzog down the left wing. Herzog dribbled to the middle then sent the pass to Yuska streaking down the far side.
Air Force took the early lead at 20:41 when Daniel Wasson converted a penalty kick, the first penalty kick of the season assessed against the Bulldogs as Gonzaga was called for an intentional hand ball on an attempted cross. The Bulldogs almost had the equalizer sooner, Pjetursson's apparent goal at 20:54 disallowed when the Bulldogs were signaled for offside. The Bulldogs also missed an opportunity to add an insurance goal at 73:21 when Nick Asoclese rocketed a ball off the crossbar.
That was the only dent against Gonzaga keeper Mike McCarthy, who had an otherwise easy day as he was called on for just one save amongst the eight Falcons' shots. Gonzaga, after being outshot 8-2 in the opening 45 minutes, came back to claim a 10-8 advantage. AFA keeper Mike Taylor also had just one save.
In the day's first match, Wisconsin took a 1-0 halftime lead when Phil Doeh scored at 33:20, Ryan Nord heading a throw-in to John McGrady, who got the ball to Doeh for the score. The Beavers tied the match at 79:01 on Aaron McHardy's penalty kick. But Watson Prather got a rebound goal at 84:40. following a Badgers' corner kick.
Both teams had solid scoring opportunities denied. OSU's Alan Gordon, who had a pair of goals on Friday, missed a wide open rebound attempt to the left at 48:09, Billmeyer slid across to rob Van Sicklen at 57:46 and Wisconsin's Eric Hanson ranged far out of the net to block a shot from Gordon at 63:24. OSU's Justin Kirk also had a shot on the wide open net turned away by the Badger defense for a team save at 88:57.
Gonzaga heads to Corvallis, Ore., next weekend to face the University of Tulsa on Friday and UC-Riverside on Sunday in the Diadora Soccer Classic hosted by Oregon State.
