Gonzaga University
Seattle University
Men's Soccer Drops Exhibition
8/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 24, 2003
SPOKANE, Wash. - Alex Chursky's breakaway goal at 72:29 was the only score as Seattle University posted a 1-0 men's soccer exhibition victory over Gonzaga University Sunday evening at Martin Soccer Field.
Chursky took a pass from Pat Doran and broke left-to-right down the left wing, tucking the ball under the left arm of sprawling Gonzaga keeper Vito Higgins.
The Bulldogs controlled play for much of the match, holding a 14-8 advantage in shots, including four shots on goal to two by the Redhawks. But Gonzaga, with a 9-2 edge in shots in the second half, was unable to put the ball in the net.
Both teams had good first-half chances. Gonzaga's Nick Ascolese dribbled a shot wide past the left post in the 16th minute. The Redhawks nearly took the lead into halftime, Ian Chursky being stopped point-blank by Gonzaga keeper Kris Wright, then shooting the rebound over the crossbar.
The Bulldogs threatened again in the 67th minute, freshman John Palladino shooting wide right, the rebound coming back to freshman Grant Lundberg who had a shot headed for the open net blocked out of harms way by a defender. AScolese also hit the right post from straightaway in the 87th minute.
"It was a good test for us," Gonzaga's 9th-year head coach Einar Thorarinsson said. "Except for not being able to score I was happy with the effort. I think you'll see a different team this year. We have good speed and our defense will be solid."
Several new faces dotted the Gonzaga lineup, including keepers Wright and Higgins who shared the goalkeeping chores. Wright, a freshman from Spokane's Lewis and Clark High, played the opening 45 minutes and had one save. Higgins, a freshman from Kailu, Hawai'i played the second half.
Spokane product John Palladino, a freshman from Central Valley High, started at midfielder. Redshirt freshman Steve Owens from Boulder, Colo., also got a start at midfielder. A lot of youth came off the bench as true freshmen Mitch White (midfielder from Boise, Idaho) and Grant Lundberg (midfielder/defender from Spokane) saw plenty of action.
The Bulldogs were without veterans Arni Ingi Pjetursson, who watched in street clothes from the bench after arriving from Iceland on Friday, and Kari Arnason, who will not arrive from his native Iceland until Wednesday.
Gonzaga will open the regular season Friday against host Air Force Academy in the Falcon Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Bulldogs will play Denver University on Sunday to conclude the tourney.
The first regular-season home match for the Bulldogs will be Sept. 4 when Cal State Monterey Bay visits for a 4 p.m. contest.
