 Prospect QuestionnaireAround The Nation |
Men's Soccer Makes Makes Home Debut A Success
Sept. 29, 2000 SPOKANE, Wash. - Jason Kuska recorded a hat trick and Gonzaga University scored three goals in 1:26 late in the contest to defeat Western Washington University 5-0 in a non-conference men's soccer match Friday on Martin Field. The match was the home debut for the Bulldogs (5-4-0) after eight straight road or neutral-field matches, and marked the first time this season Gonzaga has posted back-to-back victories. The loss snapped a 3-match winning streak for the Vikings (6-3-0) who had been idle since a Sept. 17 win over Montana State University-Billings in their Pacific West Conference opener. The game-winner Friday was an own goal, Abbas Faridnia lofting a corner kick into the box and the ball deflecting off a WWU defender and past keeper Dave Green, who had four saves as Gonzaga held an 18-3 shots advantage. The Bulldogs took a quick 2-0 lead after intermission, Kuska scoring his first goal at 45:59 off a Scott Yuska rebound. Yuska's initial shot was stopped by Green but the ball was loose to Green's left near the post, Yuska fell to the ground after the shot and then tried to sweep the ball toward the goal. But Kuska came in and blasted a shot past the helpless Green. Gonzaga maintained pressure on the Vikings but couldn't dent Green again until 85:33 when Kuska opened the flood gates with a header off a Joe Marks cross, then completed the hat trick six seconds later when he converted Justin Franson's pass. Abbas Faridnia ended the assault at 86:59 with his first goal of the season. The Bulldogs also did a solid job defensively, the Vikings getting just two first-half shots and a free kick shot in the second half as McCarthy recorded his first career shutout in his third match of the season. WWU's best scoring chance came midway through the first half when Sean Standley's shot sailed over the cross bar. Standley also had a solid scoring opportunity on the free kick, but again the ball sailed over the goal. "McCarthy's job today was to work on his distribution of the ball," Thorarinsson said. "He did a good job, and we played well defensively. He'll get the start against Santa Clara. He's over his first-game jitters." McCarthy started the season opener in a 3-1 setback at the University of Wisconsin, then picked up a 4-1 victory last Sunday at Cal Poly. The Bulldogs host Santa Clara next Friday at 2 p.m. in the West Coast Conference opener. The Broncos are ranked 26th in this week's SoccerTimes Top 25 if the rankings were extended.
|
