Two Skilled Finishes Propel Zags past Toreros
10/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SAN DIEGO, Calif.—The Gonzaga University women's soccer team has been on a great run of late, and that stretch of good play continued Thursday night with a 2-0 victory over San Diego at Torero Stadium.
"I'm super proud of this team and their work rate over the last few weeks," said head coach Amy Edwards. "They've come together as a group, followed the game plan, and been composed. Now they're able to get the results. With their leadership and competitiveness, they're ready for anybody. They always believe they can get the win."
The Zags got the win—their third in a row and fifth in the last six matches—thanks to two pefectly-placed shots. The first tally came off the foot of Heather Johnson, who got the Bulldogs on the board with a moment of brilliance in the 54th minute. She collected a throw in from Katey Pennington on the far right side of the field and dribbled a bit inside. Seeing an opportunity on frame, the junior let the shot rip from about 20 yards out near the edge of the penalty area. The well-aimed ball swerved past San Diego goalkeeper Michelle Craft and into the goal near the far post.
The Zags got another stunning goal in the 82nd minute when Pennington scored the first of her career. The senior drove a shot home from just outside the penalty area after collecting a rebound from a blocked shot. She took the attempt from near the right edge of the area and fired the shot into the upper left corner of the goalmouth to clinch the match for the Zags.
"The difference tonight was we finished our opportunities, which turned out to be two incredible goals," said Edwards. "Heather's goal came in the midst of when the momentum was coming back to us."
The first 50 minutes of the match saw momentum change sides a few times. San Diego controlled most of the first 15 minutes, but Gonzaga took charge for a bit. In the beginning of the second half, the Toreros took three shots in the first five minutes, but Johnson's score swung the pace of the game back in favor of the visitors.
"We stayed composed through the first half during the momentum swings, and the players never got down and continued to believe," said Edwards.
As has become typical for the Zags lately, Gonzaga showed improvement during the second half. Both GU goals came during the half, and they tallied five more shots and an additional corner compared to the first half as well. Over the course of the entire game, San Diego actually outshot Gonzaga 15-9, but the Toreros only got four shots on frame while the Bulldogs put six on target for a 66.7% shot on goal percentage, their highest of the season. Both keepers made four saves, but the Zags' additional shots on goal propelled them to victory.
"We outworked them in the second half, we won the game in the second half," said Edwards. "That's been our trend over the last three games, that we out-competed teams the second half."
The Zag defense tightened up in the final half as well. They broke down some Torero attacks, and keeper Christie Tombari made three of her four saves during the period to keep the clean sheet, Gonzaga's second in a row and fifth of the season.
"Our defense really stepped up in the second half, and that was a big change we needed to work during the break. Christie made some big touches on some of their crosses, and she made some big saves during the final minutes."
With the win, Gonzaga advances to 8-5-0 on the season, and a perfect 3-0-0 in West Coast Conference action. The Zags also continue their best ever start to the conference season. They look to build on that streak even more with a tough road contest at 23rd-ranked BYU on Saturday, Oct. 11. The Zags and Cougars will kick off at 6:00 p.m. Pacific in Provo, Utah.
Looking ahead briefly, Edwards is confident of a positive showing by the Zags in Provo.
"BYU always a tough team to play, and they're very tough at home in front of great crowds. We have to deal with the travel and the altitude, but I'm certain the players are going to give everything they've got to compete."
