SANTA CLARA, Calif – No. 10 Santa Clara scored a pair of goals in the final 35 minutes in a 2-1 win over Gonzaga women's soccer at Stevens Stadium Sunday. The match was televised nationally on ESPNU.
Emelia Warta put the Bulldogs (7-7-2, 3-3-1 West Coast Conference) ahead in the 52
nd minute and in position for the upset, but the Broncos rallied for the victory with the late goals. SCU (11-2-3, 5-0-2 WCC) remained in conference play and took sole possession for first in the league with three games remaining in the regular season.
Santa Clara remained unbeaten in its last eight matches after outshooting GU 17-9, with an 8-5 edge in shots on goal. The Broncos also had an 8-1 advantage in shots on goal.
Warta's third goal of the season was impressive. The sophomore struck from distance well outside the box over the SCU keeper for the opening score.
Katelyn Rigg was credited with her second assist of the year. Warta finished with a match-high five shots.
Five minutes later, the Broncos' Kat Jordan headed in a corner kick from Sally Menti to even the score. Menti had the game winner in the 79
th minute with a low driving shot from the top of the box. Ava Weiland and Tessa Ferguson earned assists.
Returning to the lineup,
Lauren Towne made six saves in the GU net, while Lauren Zontos had four for Santa Clara.
The Zags return to Spokane for their penultimate home game of the regular season, hosting Portland (8-4-6, 3-2-3) on Senior Night Saturday at 6 p.m. The game will be on ESPN Plus with live stats on GoZags.com.
