Sept. 16, 2005

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - Beth Drollinger, Lacey Castleberry and Heather Horn all recorded their first goals of the season as the Gonzaga University women's soccer team defeated the University of Montana in its home opener, 3-1, Friday afternoon at Martin Field.

With the win the Bulldogs have now won four consecutive matches on their home pitch, dating back to last season, and improve to 3-2-1. Montana drops to 1-5-1 with the loss.

Gonzaga got things going early as in the 18th minute Drollinger, a junior from Yakima, Wash., found herself 15 yards out with a clear view of the Grizzlies net. Drollinger launched a rocket shot that was out of the reach of Montana's senior goalkeeper Sarah Braseth, giving GU a 1-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs then kept the offensive pressure on the Grizzlies defense as they dominated time of possession throughout the first period. At the 40:33 mark Gonzaga pushed their lead to two when freshman midfielder Kelcey Goddard skied a corner kick into a crowded goal box where classmate Castleberry headed the ball past Braseth for her first colligate goal.

Two minutes later, Montana's only goal of the game came on a own goal, as a Gonzaga player was the last to touch the ball before it rolled into GU's net.

Montana would come no closer as Gonzaga cemented the win at the 57:13 mark. Sophomore forward Nanda McCormick was able to thread a pass through the UM defense to the feet of Horn. Horn corralled the pass and hit a laser shot past Braseth to give GU a 3-1 victory.

Gonzaga had a decisive shot advantage out shooting the Grizzlies 20-5, and held a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.

Senior goalkeeper Ashley Haugen recorded one save in picking up the win for the Bulldogs, while her counterpart, Braseth, allowed three goals and recorded five saves in taking the loss for the Grizzlies.

Gonzaga will return to the pitch on Sunday as they continue their home stand against UC Riverside in a 1 p.m. non-conference match at Martin Field.