Offensive Woes Continue As Bulldogs Drop 2-0 Decision
10/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Gonzaga University's offensive woes continued Sunday as Santa Clara University captured a 2-0 West Coast Conference men's soccer victory.
The Bulldogs (2-6-1; 0-2-0) have not scored in 298:28 since their last goal with 4:33 to play in a 4-1 loss to Cal State Bakersfield. The Broncos also extended Gonzaga's WCC road match losing streak to 11.
The Broncos (6-1-3, 2-0-0) downed Gonzaga for the fifth straight match. SCU, ranked ninth in the Far West poll of the NSCAA last week, downed 25th-ranked University of Portland 1-0 Friday while the Bulldogs dropped a 1-0 overtime decision at the University of San Francisco.
The Broncos picked up the only goal they would need at 25:50 when Glenn Vass scored his third goal of the season off a corner kick. Mykell Bates went up for a header off the corner kick, the ball was cleared by the Bulldog defense, but Vass was there to knock it home for the goal.
SCU added an insurance tally at 67:09 when Erik Hurtado dribbled from the left wing to the top of the 18 and put a shot high to the far corner out of the reach of Gonzaga keeper Ryan Caballero.
The Bulldogs, outshot 10-3 in the first half and without a shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes, started to control some of the play early in the second half. Josh Phillips hit the post in the 53rd minute off a corner kick by Nathanael Pacheco and Zach Hamer had a pair of chances that sailed wide a couple of minutes later.
Santa Clara ended up with a 19-10 shots advantage, including 9-7 in the second half. Caballero was called on for five saves, three in the second half as he battled to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance. SCU keeper Kevin Klasila didn't face a shot on goal.
Gonzaga will make its West Coast Conference home debut next weekend when Loyola Marymount University visits Friday at 3 p.m. followed by the University of San Diego Sunday at 1 p.m.
