Gonzaga University
San Francisco
Zags Regular Season Ends With 3-1 Setback to USF
11/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 6, 2010
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Despite scoring first, the Gonzaga University women's soccer team couldn't hold on as the University of San Francisco came back and won the West Coast Conference match 3-1 Saturday.
Senior forward Ashley Riley scored for the Zags while the Dons' Lauren Maris had two goals including the eventual match-winner. Ashley O'Brien also scored for the Dons.
The Bulldogs complete the regular season 8-11-1 overall and 3-4-0 in the WCC. With the University of San Diego winning its match Friday against Loyola Marymount University, the Toreros finish third in the WCC standings while the Zags finish fourth.
"Obviously I am disappointed we didn't get a win today especially for our seniors but overall I'm very happy with our fourth place finish in the WCC. We took steps forward from last year," Bulldogs head coach Amy Edwards said.
The Zags were on the attack early, taking four shots 30 minutes into the match. Senior midfielder Sheridan Jones almost scored two minutes into the match but her shot hit the crossbar. In the 11th minute senior midfielder Catherine Cullen took a shot that hit the post.
Gonzaga continued to pressure though. After a scramble in the penalty box, Riley connected with passes from freshman forward Cassie Geerdts and junior forward Sarah Rhodes, tapping in her fifth goal of the season to give the Zags a 1-0 lead at 30:49. Geerdts and Rhodes earned their seventh and sixth assists of the year, respectively. With the assist, Geerdts ties Claire Whifield (1999-2002) for the team's all-time assist record in a single season. The team also sets a new single season record of 29 assists.
Maris tied the match with her first goal of the match at 39:16 after forcing redshirt junior goalkeeper Lauren Ames to leave the penalty box to try and make the save. Maris punched in her second goal of the match at 53:01 after beating Ames and two Bulldog defenders.
O'Brien scored the insurance goal on a breakaway one minute later.
Despite having a 6-4 edge in shots in the first half, the Bulldogs were outshot 15-9 in the match. Ames had four saves in her final match and Dons keeper Noelle Salter had two.
In addition to the aforementioned seniors, defenders Lindsay Hood, Elle Sweeney and Ashley Railey also saw their collegiate careers come to a close. Although she didn't record an assist in the match, Jones will leave the Bulldogs second in the all-time list with 14.
