In an evenly-fought affair, Gonzaga suffered their first loss at home this season in nine contests, dropping a 2-1 decision against a regular WCC power Santa Clara Sunday. In consolation, the goal was the Lady Zags' 35th of the campaign, setting a single season record for the program.
Gonzaga outshot the Broncos on the day, but it was Zags keeper Isabel Jones that came up big save early in the contest, fully extending horizontally to reach the ball and parry it away. In a back-and-forth half, the visitors broke through for the lead in the 38th on a Julie Doyle corner kick that Delaney Baie Pridham headed in from inside the six at the far post (video below).
Several minutes later Gonzaga nearly tied the game up on a corner from the right that found the head of India Jencks at the far post, but Bronco midifelder Alex Loera dashed in at the last second to nod the ball away off the goal-line (video below).
In the second half Doyle doubled the lead on a ball from Loera in the 57th minute. The Zags continued to push matters in a rally attempt and a foul on Sophia Viviano in the box as she rose to meet the ball allowed Callie Best (Spokane, WA) to convert a penalty in the 70th, breaking the program's record for goals scored in a season.
Santa Clara, which featured local talents Kelsey Turnbow (Spokane, WA) and Kelcie Hedge (Post Falls, ID) in the starting lineup, moved to 3-1-0 in the WCC while Gonzaga is now 2-2-0. Turnbow was coming off a two-goal performance in a 4-1 win at Portland Friday.
The @SCUWomensSoccer goal from Pridham on 38th min corner that has Broncos up 1-0 pic.twitter.com/9hgQKKfcwR— Gerald Barnhart (@INWsoccernews) October 8, 2017
Couple minutes later @zagswsoccer nearly equalized but Loera there as well for goal-line header save for @SCUWomensSoccer pic.twitter.com/muGAF3reC3— Gerald Barnhart (@INWsoccernews) October 8, 2017
###
