Nov. 6, 2005

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University's men's soccer team was on the verge of making program history Sunday afternoon, but the University of Washington scored twice in a span of 2:18 inside the 85-minute mark to post a 3-2 non-conference victory and keep history on the side of the Huskies.

The Bulldogs (6-8-4) have never defeated the Huskies (10-6-2) in 19 meetings and have only a 2-2 tie in 1999 to show in the series that dates back to 1981.

George John scored his first goal of the season at 87:23 to stun the Bulldogs and keep Washington's post-season hopes alive. The Bulldogs, who were 4-1-1 in their last six matches heading into Sunday, suffered a setback in their hopes for an at-large berth into the NCAA College Cup. Gonzaga has two West Coast Conference matches remaining at home Thursday against Santa Clara University and Saturday against the University of San Francisco, and the Bulldogs must win both matches to have any hopes of extending their season. Both matches start at 1 p.m.

"It was a tough way to lose," Gonzaga head coach Einar Thorarinsson said. "I feel extremely bad for our players. They really wanted this one."

The Bulldogs seemed in control of the match when Chris Hoyd scored his second goal of the season at 70:30 to break a 1-1 tie, his straightaway shot from 15 yards beating UW keeper Chris Eylander to the right side of the net.

Conor Baranski nearly put the icing on the match for the Bulldogs in the 81st minute, his hard shot from the left wing saved by Eylander but the rebound came out and Baranski tried to chip the ball to the far post only to see it slither wide right. Five minutes later Ely Allen netted his third goal of the season for the equalizer, getting a loose ball the Bulldogs were unable to clear and getting just enough on the shot to see it dribble in.

That set for the stage for John's heroics. Jo Jo Katz fed the pass and John got off a hard shot that sailed high into the net from 15 yards nearly straightaway.

Gonzaga had taken the early lead, George Josten scoring his team-leading 11th goal of the season on a wide open shot from 19 yards on the right side and the Bulldogs made the goal stand up for a 1-0 halftime lead. Mark Stock fed a perfect pass and Josten connected for his 16th career goal. His 11 single-season goals move him into sole possession of sixth on the Gonzaga list, and his 16 career tallies tie him for sixth.

Just minutes prior to the Josten goal Eylander was called on for perhaps the biggest of his three saves in the match. Defender Austin Washington dribbled down the left wing and launched a hard, high shot from 18 yards. Eylander dove fully extended high to his left and tipped the ball over the net. Eylander was also called on again late in the half, saving Scott Meslin's shot and then seeing his defense block Josh Westermann's rebound attempt from close range.

Gonzaga keeper Vito Higgins also rose to the occasion in the 37th minute, stopping Nick Loveless from point blank range near the right post to preserve what was then a 1-0 Gonzaga lead.

It didn't take the Huskies long to draw even in the second half, Loveless scoring his third goal of the season at 53:56, Mike Chabala's throw-in in from the right sideline going into the box and Loveless converting for the goal. From that point both defenses took over until Hoyd's goal as neither team was able to mount a serious scoring threat.