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Thalman and Danielson Combine For Shutout In Zags Victory
Sept. 20, 2009
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Gonzaga University women's soccer team posted a 1-0 shutout win over the visiting University of Idaho Vandals in front of 558 fans at the Gonzaga Soccer Field Sunday afternoon. Sarah Rhodes tallied the lone score of the match, recording her second consecutive match-winner after hitting the match-winner in the 85th minute of the Zags 2-1 victory over Seattle University this past Thursday. The Bulldogs improved to 5-3-0 on the season as Rhodes' goal at the 15:36 mark proved to be enough to get by the Vandals (5-4-0). The Zags received two great efforts from keepers Jessie Thalman and Amy Danielson to post their second combined shutout of the season and the Bulldogs third shutout of the season. Thalman made three saves while Danielson made one stop to help the Zags improve to 4-1 at home this season. "It was nice to get the victory in front of our home crowd today," commented head coach Amy Edwards. "We didn't play well the full 90 minutes but we did manage to play very well in spurts and that was enough to get the win today." The first half opened with a flurry of offensive pressures by the Bulldogs who fired the matches first six shots. Following Kelsey Werre's point blank shot that was punched away by Idaho keeper Liz Boyden, Jessie Sorenson gathered in a cross from Ashley Riley along the left side and delivered a pass that squeezed by two Idaho defenders to a streaking Rhodes who made one dribble to her left and rocketed a shot past the sprawling keeper into the far right corner for the score.
"Jessie and Sarah turned in a perfect combo and Sarah was able to make a good finish to get the goal," said Edwards. "It was good to come back and get the win on a Sunday after playing as hard as we did this past Thursday." The Zags did have a couple chances to put the match away early on in the second half but some good team defense by Idaho turned away a couple Bulldog threats. Rhodes just missed picking up her second goal of day as she got past an Idaho defender and had a one-on-one with the keeper but had her left footed blast towards the left post gathered in by Boyden. Sheridan Jones had GU's other good look of second half as her one-timer from 15 yards out on the right side sailed just high. Idaho did not go down without a fight as their last offensive push in the final minute had a number of the Bulldogs diving all over the field in attempt to keep the shutout in order. With less than 20 seconds to go the Vandals pushed the ball deep into GU territory and following a series of right cross attempts, UI's Megan Lopez found herself alone with the ball on the left side of the Gonzaga keeper box. After gathering in the ball she fired on net but Conrad was the first Bulldog defender to get to Lopez and was able to block her shot and force the ball out to the sideline. Conrad then cleared but Amber Pimley got one final shot off from 20 yards out but Danielson, who played the second half in net for the Zags, was right there for the save as the horn went off. Gonzaga finished with a 15-12 shot advantage along with an 8-1 advantage in corners. Boyden recorded six saves for the Vandals. Rhodes goal moved her into a tie for the team-lead in goals (3) and in points (7) with Lori Conrad. "I am very happy with where we are at right now," stated Edwards. "We needed play well today and head into these seven straight road matches with some momentum." The Bulldogs now begin that stretch that will have them play their next seven matches on the road beginning next weekend with the Uni Wyo Cowgirl Classic hosted by the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo. The Zags will first match up with the host Cowgirls 3 p.m. Friday before closing out tournament play against Boise State University 10 a.m. Sunday. |
