Oct. 24, 2008
Box Score
MORAGA, Calif. - Freshman Courtney Peacock's second goal of the game gave the Gonzaga University women's soccer team a 4-3 overtime win over Saint Mary's College in a West Coast Conference match Friday afternoon.
Sophomore Ashley Riley and freshmen Sarah Rhodes also recorded goals for the Bulldogs who improved to 6-9-2 overall and 1-3-0 in the WCC with the win. SMC's record fell to 8-6-2 overall and 1-2-1 in the WCC.
"We came into the match feeling like we had something to prove. This was a big victory for our club today," said head coach Shannon Stiles. "We played with a lot of emotion and passion today. It's been a tough couple weeks for our team. We experienced a lot of ups and downs again today but the girls hung in there, stayed composed and picked up a win against a solid Saint Mary's squad."
The Zags jumped on the Gaels early as the speedy Riley dribbled past an SMC defender along the left side and found the back left corner of the net with a left footed shot from just inside the 18 to give GU the 1-0 lead. Riley's second goal of season was the first road goal by the Bulldogs in its last six road matches, a span of over 559 minutes.
SMC evened the match 12 minutes later as Danielle Spann took advantage of a questionable foul call whistled against the Bulldogs inside the their own box, scoring via penalty kick for the Gaels. Saint Mary's later took a 2-1 lead just over three minutes into the second half on Ashley Nied's goal from just inside the 18.
Peacock picked up her first career netter at the 51:10 mark just as Riley had earlier in the match, dribbling through the Gael defense this time along the right side and snuck a left-footed shot just inside the near post to even it at 2-2. Rhodes then gave the Zags a 3-2 lead with her third score of the season, beating SMC keeper Tara Larson high in the 72nd minute.
With time winding down in regulation the Gaels put together one final offensive rush and following a GU foul call in the 87th minute, SMC's Koning Mercede tied the match with a lob shot over Gonzaga sophomore keeper Lauren Ames.
The young Bulldog squad held it together though and continued to battle in the overtime session. At the 96:41 mark in the extra period, Peacock again beat the SMC defense along the right side and then made a move inside followed by a rocket off her left foot over the SMC keeper into the far corner for her first career match-winner.
Ames made six saves for the Bulldogs who played its fifth overtime match of the season, the most since the 1996 team that played in six overtime matches. Larson made eight saves for the Gaels. Riley led all players with four shots-on-goal as the Bulldogs outshot SMC 21-16 in the match.
The Zags continued their WCC road swing in the bay area, matching up with the University of San Francisco Sunday at 1 p.m.
