Zags Continue WCC Homestand
10/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 13, 2004
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SPOKANW, Wash. - The Gonzaga University women's soccer team (8-6-0, 0-1-0 WCC) will continue its three-match West Coast Conference home-stand this weekend as they host Loyola Marymount University on Friday in a 12:30 p.m. match and No. 20 Pepperdine University in a 11 a.m. match on Sunday at Martin Field.
LAST TIME OUT: Gonzaga University split its last two matches. On Friday, the Bulldogs snapped their three-match losing streak with a 2-1 double overtime win over the University of Idaho Vandals. The Zags struck first as senior striker Annie Hawkins controlled a pass from her twin sister, senior midfielder Sarah, slipped the ball past Idaho's goalkeeper for the early lead. Idaho tied things up in the 65th minute when the Vandals got one past GU's junior goalkeeper Ashley Haugen. After batteling through one scoreless overtime period freshman Jamie Blanche found herself on the left side of the goal box, controlled a deflected shot off the crossbar and hit a laser past Idaho's keeper in the 103rd minute to lift GU to a win. On Sunday, the Bulldogs hosted the fourth-ranked University of Portland in both team's WCC opener. The Pilots scored the only goal of the match in the 46th minute to hand GU a heartbreaking loss.
ZAGS END SCORING DROUGHT: Senior forward Annie Hawkins' goal against the University of Idaho ended the 345-minute scoring drought for Gonzaga University. Hawkins' goal was the first for the Bulldogs since they defeated Montana University 2-1 on Sept. 24.
CAN HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?: Gonzaga University is hoping history can repeat itself. Last season the Zags shutout the then 11th-ranked Pepperdine University Waves 1-0, marking the inaugural win over a ranked opponent. GU is 1-31-0 all-time vs. ranked opponents.
AN EYE-OPENING LOSS: Gonzaga University's 1-0 loss has opened some eyes around the West Coast Conference. The University of Portland head coach Garrett Smith had this to say about the Zags. "They are a very competitive Division I team now, and people should take notice." In fact this was the smallest margin of victory the Pilots have posted over the Zags.
THE HAWKINS EFFECT: Gonzaga University's Annie and Sarah Hawkins have made a huge impact for the Bulldogs this season. Annie is leading the Zags in goals scored with six, and total points with 14. Sarah is now leading the team in assists with three and has added three goals to give her nine points, good for second on the team.
HOME, SWEET HOME: Gonzaga University has begun to make Martin Field an unfriendly place for opponents as the Zags have posted a 9-5-0 record on its home pitch since the start of the 2003 season. GU saw its 4-match home win streak snapped this past weekend against the University of Portland and now have a 4-1-0 record at Martin Field this season.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: The Loyola Marymount University Lions enter the week with a record of 7-3-3 overall and 0-0-1 in the WCC after batteling to a 1-1 tie with No. 20 Pepperdine University this past weekend. The Lions are currently on a five-match unbeaten streak. During this streak the Lions have outscored their opponents 8-2 while posting a 2-0-3 record. LMU and GU will look to their 13th meeting with the Lions holding a decisive 10-1-1 edge. GU shutout the Lions 4-0 in 2003. LMU's leading scorer is junior forward Lori Sims who has tallied seven goals and five assists for 19 points. On the defensive side of things freshman Joslyn Slovek and senior Kelly Yukihiro have split time in the net. Slovek has a record of 2-0-3 with 20 saves and a goals-against-average of 0.51. Yukihiro has a 5-3-0 record with 17 saves and GAA of 0.88.
SCOUTING THE WAVES: The Pepperdine University Waves enter the week with 7-2-2 overall record and a 0-0-1 mark in the WCC. The Waves hold a 9-1-1 all-time record over the Bulldogs. The Waves have yielded four goals on the season and hasn't allowed more then one goal in a match. The Waves are currently ridding a three-match unbeaten streak. Pepperdine's offensive charge is led by junior striker Jenna Fodor who has a team-leading four goals and one assist for nine points. Pepperdine's goalkeeping duties are in the hands of junior Anna Picarelli who is posting a 0.35 goals-against-average.
LIVE ON THE INTERNET: All Gonzaga University home matches as well as all West Coast Conference road matches will be available via Gametracker on the internet at http://www.gozags.com. Check the Gonzaga web site for all Gametracker links. THE
STILES FILE: The first female head women's soccer coach in the history of the West Coast Conference, Shannon Stiles enters her sixth season at Gonzaga with the program coming off the most successful season in school history. The Bulldogs posted their first winning season in school history with an 11-8-0 record and a 3-4-0 mark in WCC play. The three wins in WCC play surpassed the previous total of two conference wins Gonzaga had collected during 10 previous seasons of WCC play. For her efforts Stiles was named WCC Coach of the Year. Her overall record as a collegiate head coach is 35-70-2, making her the winningest coach in program history.
