Hamer Finds Late Goal as Zags Down Tigers
11/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
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SPOKANE, Wash.—The Gonzaga University men's soccer team dominated the offensive stats Sunday afternoon against Pacific, and in double overtime they finally took a lead in the stat that matters most with a late goal by Zach Hamer to beat the Tigers 1-0 at Luger Field.
Hamer found the net on Gonzaga's 34th attempt of the night, the most by the Zags since putting up 35 shots against MSU-Billings in 1999. The match-ending play started with a Zag set piece attempt that bounced off a couple players in the Pacific box. The ball rolled to Hamer, and the senior midfielder drove it into the net for the win.
"We could have and should have utilized our opportunities in the first half a bit better," said Gonzaga men's soccer head coach Einar Thorarinsson. "We had some really good open chances but didn't get one with them saving it off the line a couple times. We were a little unlucky with that, but obviously we'll take it with that goal late in overtime. Credit Zach with that great finish."
Some of the Zags' best chances in the first half came during a stretch of three minutes starting at 30:36. Lars Ludwigs took an attempt on the frame, but the shot was turned aside by Pacific keeper Josh Adachi. One minute later, Ludwigs found Jalen Crisler open in the box on a corner kick. The redshirt freshman defender got a head on the ball, but Adachi made that save as well. Ludwigs came oh so close to a tally again 1:24 later, taking a strike from distance. Ludwgs' shot hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced down, just in front of the goal line and back into the box. At that point Clark Phillips ran into head the ball into the net, but sent it just wide right.
Gonzaga had a couple stellar chances in the second half as well, the first coming in the 77th minute when Nate Pacheco took an attempt that was blocked at the last second by a Tiger defender. The rebound fell to Jakob Granlund who ripped it on frame, but Adachi made a strong save to keep the game scoreless. The other chances came six minutes later when another header from Crisler rocketed towards the far post. The ball bounced around loosely near the post, but a Pacific defender managed to clear it from immediate danger.
In all, the Zags took 34 shots, 13 of which were on frame for a season high as well. Both Phillips and Pacheco led all players with six shots; three of Phillips' were on target while Pacheco put two on frame. Pacheco's six attempts were a career high, and the senior's best opportunity came in the first overtime period when he sent a ball loose in the box just barely wide right.
The Zag defense had a strong day as well, holding the Tigers to nine shots in an open, free-flowing game. Two Zag keepers made two saves apiece as Ben Willis, the starter, was forced to leave the game after Pacific's Tristan Blackmon struck him with a foot during a collision during the second half. Blackmon received a second yellow card and was ejected from the game, but not before Chris Lowrimore was forced to come in and play the final 18:39, making two saves and tallying the victory.
"The defense stood well, and Ben really saved us when he got injured," said Thorarinsson. "He came up like he's trained to do. The whole defense played well."
The Zags (4-12-1, 2-3-1 WCC) wrap up their 2014 season Saturday, Nov. 15, with a home match against Portland. That contest will be the final collegiate match for seven seniors: Hamer, Ludwigs, Phillips, Pacheco, Ben Striar, Aaron Jeffery, and Keane Ellis. Each of the seniors will be honored in a pre-game ceremony just before 1:00 p.m. at Luger Field.
