Gonzaga University
Santa Clara
Bulldogs Improved Season Ends With Defeat To #14 SCU
11/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 7, 2009
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University women's soccer team closed out the 2009 season with a 6-1 defeat to No. 14 ranked Santa Clara University in a West Coast Conference match at the Gonzaga Soccer Field Saturday.
Emily Hutchins provided the Bulldogs (8-12, 2-5 WCC) with the highlight, taking a pass from Ashley Riley and getting a shot past a charging Santa Clara (13-6-1, 5-2 WCC) keeper for her third score of the season. Riley delivered a perfectly placed pass through two defenders to a streaking Hutchins who dribbled into the right side of the 18-yard box and slipped a low liner past SCU's Bianca Henniger into the left corner for the goal.
"Ashley and Emily produced a very composed goal," commented head coach Amy Edwards. "Ashley made a nice pass to Emily who finished well."
The Broncos pressured the Bulldogs early and continued the offensive attacks throughout each team's final match of the regular season. SCU picked up first half goals in the 13th and 29th minute and later used to a bad bounce off a Bulldog to build a 3-0 lead.
Just over ten minutes later, Hutchins' goal put the Zags on the board before the teams went into the half with Santa Clara up 3-1.
Santa Clara added three more goals in the second half with the final score of the day coming via penalty kick. The Broncos finished with a 18-12 shot advantage along with a 8-4 advantage in corner kicks.
"Santa Clara is a very good team and they punish you for your mistakes," stated Edwards. "That's what they did; they took advantage of some mistakes."
Sarah Rhodes led the Zags with four shots while Hutchins added three shots, two on goal and senior Christi D'Agostino registered two shots in her final match for GU. Prior to the match Gonzaga recognized D'Agostino, Jessie Thalman, Jessie Sorenson, Taylor Hall, Lori Conrad, Amy Danielson and Kat Taylor who each played in their final match for the Zags.
Gonzaga produced eight wins while playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation as they jumped their RPI up 70 spots from a season ago. The eight wins and 24 total goals are each improvements from last season's totals. The Zags will have five players returning next season that scored multiple goals this season led by Rhodes who finished with a team high in 10 points and tied with Sorenson for the team lead in goals with four.
"We were able to make some progress while playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation this season," commented Edwards. "I see a very bright future for Gonzaga soccer.
