Gonzaga University
Washington
Huskies Hold Off Bulldogs Second Half Rally
10/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 2, 2009
SEATTLE, Wash. - A second half push by Gonzaga University came up short as the Bulldogs dropped a non-conference match 3-1 to the University of Washington Friday night.
Gonzaga (6-5-0) had Sheridan Jones record her first goal of the season while Washington used a pair of first half goals and a 17-7 shot advantage to improve to 7-2-1.
The match opened up with Bulldog keeper Amy Danielson making two nice saves to keep the Huskies off the board in the early minutes. UW's Veronica Perez had broke free and fired a shot that was knocked knocked down by Danielson but not away. UW's Kelli Stewart then gathered the follow and fired on net but Danielson was there for the save.
After a couple of Bulldog offensive pressures were cleared away by UW, the Huskies made their way down the field as Perez dribbled into the 18 yard box and passed out to Stewart along the right side. Stewart then fired a shot past a diving Danielson into the far left corner of the net for the score at the 16:46 mark. Gonzaga regrouped after the early miscue and dialed up the offensive pressure to play the way they have become accustomed to this season.
Anna Lund had a good look that missed just wide for the Bulldogs as Elle Sweeney's free kick from midfield made its way into the UW box. Lund gathered in the loose ball and fired just right of goal. Later in the half, another great look got turned away as Ashley Riley gathered in a loose ball and rocketed a shot from 10 yards out on right side towards the left corner of the net but UW keeper Kari Davidson made an incredible diving save to her right to keep it a 1-0 Husky lead.
In the final minutes of the first period Washington made one last push that resulted in taking a 2-0 lead into the break, using a long left cross from Stewart led to McKenna Waitley who kicked one in from 15 yards out on the right side to beat Danielson to her right at the 40:30 mark.
The Bulldogs came out in the second half playing with a lot more intensity, turning up the offensive attacks as it was Riley again who had a another good look turned away. She volleyed a ball past the UW keeper along the right side of the box before firing a shot on goal but a Husky defender came streaking into keeper box to deny the Bulldog goal. Minutes later Jones was able to put the Bulldogs on the board as Emily Hutchins, a Seattle native who had roughly 25 family and friends in attendance, sent a left cross deep into the box. Jones received the cross and volleyed one into the right corner for the score to cut the UW lead to 2-1.
"Sheridan had another solid match for us tonight," commented head coach Amy Edwards. "She continues to be a playmaker and a big part of this team."
With the momentum gained by the Jones goal, the Zags were able to put together a couple more offensive attacks but the UW defense held strong down the stretch. Following the GU goal, Riley delivered a beautifully placed through ball to a Sarah Rhodes who was met by a UW defender deep in the Husky zone before she could get a shot off. Riley made another push later, rocketing a shot form 15 yards out towards the right corner but Davidson went to the ground to make the save. Just after Riley's shot attempt was turned away the Huskies used Waitley's second goal of the night to put the match out of reach.
"We produced a very good effort in the second half tonight," stated Edwards. "I thought that our forwards played very well tonight. In the second half, our attack was dynamic and were the most dangerous that we had been all season. We need to carry this attacking mentality over into Sunday's match against Portland State."
The Zags continue their road trip with a stop in Portland, Ore. to face Portland State University 1 p.m. Sunday.
