MSOC Hangs Tough in 1-0 Loss vs. #5 Saint Mary’s

Sunday, November 4

Moraga, Calif.

1 pm

Gonzaga University

2-13-2, 0-6WCC

Saint Mary's College of California

16-0-1, 5-0-1WCC

Team	1	2	Final F
GONZAGA	0	0	0
Saint Mary's (CA)	0	1	1

Demitrius Kigeya chases down the soccer ball.

Photo by: Torrey Vail

MSOC Hangs Tough in 1-0 Loss vs. #5 Saint Mary’s

11/4/2018 3:12:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

GU defense kept WCC’s top offense to just one score

MORAGA, Calif. — Gonzaga men's soccer held the league's top offense and fifth-ranked Saint Mary's to just one goal, but the Zags weren't able to find the net in a 1-0 loss in Moraga, Calif., on Sunday afternoon.

Saint Mary's (16-0-1, 5-0-1) entered the match unbeaten and with 47 goals in 16 total games to its ledger, but GU (2-13-2, 0-6-0) held the Gaels scoreless for the first 75 minutes before the game-winning SMC goal.

"We were as well-prepared for this game as ever, and created good chances along with some outstanding defense," head coach Paul Meehan said. "Credit Saint Mary's with finishing their chance, aside from that I feel that might've been the best 90 minutes we've put together. We have good reason to look forward to our final match of the season on Saturday."

The Zags created more opportunities and were stout on the defensive end in the first half. Gonzaga managed four shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes, compared to just two for Saint Mary's.

In the second half, it was much the same for GU until the 76^th minute when the Gaels' Jake Rudel scored his 13^th goal of the year after Jakub Svehlik lobbed a pass over the defense to set up the shot.

Gonzaga goalkeeper Ben Willis increased his league-leading save total with seven more in the contest to give him 74 saves on the season. He needs just two more to break into the top 10 single-season totals in GU history.

Gonzaga will wrap up its season on Saturday, Nov. 10, hosting Pacific on Senior Recognition Day at Luger Field at 2 p.m. Live coverage will be available at GoZags.com.