Aug. 24, 2008

Box Score

Spokane, Wash. - Gonzaga University's Women's Soccer team earned a 1-0 win over Portland State University in front of 458 fans at the new Gonzaga Soccer Field Sunday afternoon. Junior Christi D'Agostino's first career goal proved to be enough for the Bulldogs who improved to 1-1-0 on the young season.

Portland State's record fell to 0-2-0.

The Bulldogs played most of the first period inside the Portland State zone, battling for every lose ball and continuing to move towards the goal. Gonzaga fired up seven shots and took six corner kicks in the first 45 minutes but was unable to find the back of the net as both teams went into the half knotted at 0-0.

The intensity picked up in the second half as both teams came out looking to pick up their first victory of the season. Gonzaga's offensive pressure eventually broke down a sold Viking defense. At the 52:40 mark, sophomore Ashley Riley sent a crossing pass into the Portland State box. Out of a group of players vying for the ball, D'Agostino fired a shot that glanced off of a Viking defender and snuck past a diving Portland State keeper Cris Lewis and into the left corner of the net to give the Bulldogs the 1-0 advantage.

Portland State's best chance to even the match came just minutes later as Kala Renard's shot from the right side was punched away by a leaping Lauren Ames. The Bulldog defense held strong the rest of the way and picked up the win in the first game played at the new Gonzaga Soccer Field.

"We took a step in the right direction today," said head coach Shannon Stiles. "Our young team responded well to a tough loss on Friday and produced a solid game on our new field and in front of our fans."

Gonzaga outshot the Vikings 14-8 and had the advantage in corner kicks, 8-4. Ames made three saves to pick up the win.

The Bulldogs travel to face the University of Idaho on Friday at 1 p.m. before hosting the University of Washington next Sunday at 1 p.m.