8-seed Gonzaga (14-3-2, 6-1-1 WCC) vs. UC Irvine (9-7-6, 3-3-4 Big West)
FRIDAY, NOV. 17 | 1:30 P.M. PT | HIBNER STADIUM | LINCOLN, NE
ESPN PLUS |
LIVE STATS
DANCING AGAIN:
- The Bulldogs are making their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and first since 2005 when they fell 1-0 at Southern California.
- The Zags earned an eight-seed in their quadrant of the 64-team field.
HISTORIC WINS:
- Gonzaga won its sixth conference game in a season for the first time in program history.
- The Zags' 14 victories are the second-most behind 2021's 15 wins.
- Head Coach
Chris Watkins has 78 wins at the helm at GU, one shy of tying the program record.
HISTORY MADE:
- Gonzaga claimed the program's first-ever West Coast Conference title with a 3-1 road win at Pepperdine.
- The Zags earned the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
- It was Gonzaga's third win at Pepperdine in 16 matches all-time. It was the first win in Malibu over the Waves since 2005, the Zags' only other season with an NCAA Tournament appearance.
ZAGS RACK UP CONFERENCE AWARDS:
-
Chris Watkins was named the WCC Coach of the Year. He earned the honor in the 2020 Spring season as well.
-
Kelsey Oyler and
Giana Riley were both named First Team All-WCC, while
Maddie Kemp,
Chelsea Le, and
Lauren Towne were second team.
Grace Courter and
Marissa Garcia were tabbed honorable mention.
-
Shelby Runje and
Emelia Warta were named to the league's All-Freshman Team.
SUPER SUNDAY:
- GU held off No. 15 Santa Clara for 1-0 upset win. In front of a national audience on ESPNU, the Zags beat SCU for only the second time in program history.
- The Bulldogs were 1-25-3 against Santa Clara coming into the match. GU's lone victory over the Broncos was in 2007 when SCU was No. 12, 2-1, and last season's draw at Santa Clara snapped a 12-match win streak for SCU in the series that dates to 1993.
PROGRAM ON THE RISE:
- The Zags have more 10-win seasons over the last seven seasons (6) than the rest of its program history combined (5). GU has won 10 or more games under Watkins six times out of his seven seasons at the helm, with the exception being seven wins in the Spring 2020 shortened season.
RECORD-BREAKING NIGHT IN STOCKTON:
- Gonzaga set new single season scoring, assist and point total records in the 5-2 victory at Pacific.
- The Bulldogs scored their 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, and 49th goals of the season in the win.
- The Zags recorded four assists in the win, which set a new season assist record at 48. GU also reached 136 points for the season, breaking another record.
