Gonzaga University
UIC
Men's Soccer Rolls to 4-1 Win over UIC
8/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Gonzaga men's soccer team got it rolling early on offense and never let up in a 4-1 win over visiting Illinois-Chicago on Sunday at Luger Field.
Four different Zags scored a goal in a game that marked the first four-goal game for GU since Oct. 3, 2014, a span of 28 games. The win moved the Zags to 1-0-1 on the season, and made it a three-game unbeaten streak dating back to the final game of 2015.
"We were much more efficient with getting the ball on frame, and I was proud of the way the guys finished the play," head coach Einar Thorarinsson said. "We made some adjustments on defense at halftime and the guys responded well."
Gonzaga got the scoring started early with a goal from Ben White in the fourth minute. The junior preseason All-WCC selection took a header on a cross from Austin Giftopoulos and put it home. Both players weren't done getting in on the action either.
After UIC tied it at 1-1, Giftopoulos took a low cross from Sam Olson to score his first goal of the season in the 14th minute. Just 13 minutes later, Denis Kalamar scored his first goal as a Zag on a feed from White. Kalamar's header from in close made it 3-1 heading in to halftime.
In the 51st minute, Jalen Crisler got in on the scoring with his own header on a pass from Jake Kempf. Crisler, a defender, had played standout defense high in the air for the Zags all weekend and did the same on the offensive end for the final GU goal of the game.
The defense locked in after the 10th minute goal from UIC, allowing only three more shots on goal. GU goalkeeper Ben Willis also turned in another solid performance with three saves.
Gonzaga will be back in action on Sept. 1, hosting Oral Roberts at 6 p.m. at Luger Field. Live stats and live video will be available at GoZags.com.
