The Non-Basketball Zag Tracks

I'm going to try my best to not mention Gonzaga basketball in this entire blog.  With the season nearly here, it's getting harder and harder not to get swept up in the hype that this year's team comes with.  It is probably the most busy time of the year for Gonzaga athletics as a whole however and TKR is dedicated to "everything Gonzaga" so here it goes.

-- The Gonzaga golf season is well underway and so far it has been touch and go.  The guys traveled across the country to Washington D.C. over the weekend to compete in today and tomorrow's Georgetown Intercollegiate men's golf tournament.  What was supposed to be a 54 hole tournament was shortened to 36 because of some inclement weather on the East coast.  The poor weather did not deter senior Michael Hansen who came out of the gate hot and shot a 1-over par round of 72 today.  His round was good enough to be tied in 8th place in the tournament  

Thanks in large part to Hansen's play, Gonzaga finds themselves in 8th place out of 14 teams.  The tournament will conclude with 18 more holes tomorrow morning.

-- Not much has gone right this season for the Gonzaga women's soccer team.  Just a few years removed from one of their best seasons in history, the ladies have fallen on hard times.  This continued on Sunday as the Zags dropped a heartbreaker to Loyola Marymount.  The game went into double-overtime and saw the Bulldogs fall in a 2-1 loss.  A four game scoreless streak was ended by Christi D'Agostino in the first half but LMU would score the next two goals to down Gonzaga.

The loss drops the ladies to 5-9-2 on the season and are still searching for their first conference win.  They will be touring California this coming week with games at St. Mary's and San Francisco.

-- In other news, the men and women's crew teams will be hosting their annual Alumni Weekend this coming weekend.  The weekend will be filled with plenty of social outings and will conclude with some racing on Sunday.  The crew teams have been some of the more consistent and outstanding teams at Gonzaga for some time and should be poised for another great season in 2008-09.

Monday Zag Tracks...

KRAZINESS IN THE KENNEL IS 11 DAYS AWAY!

In other news...

--As we reported earlier, Devonte Elliott was not on campus this weekend. We haven't received a definite word as to why but most speculation points to the fact that he has not posted a test score in the SAT or ACT; something which is required before taking official visits. We expect Devonte to be on campus at some point as Gonzaga is one of the leaders in this recruitment. It would have been nice to get the California kid here before the extreme cold and snow hits in Spokane!

--Rankings, rankings, rankings! In the next few weeks we should be drown in college basketball preseason rankings. USA Today will be releasing their college basketball preview soon and they have put out a little information already. The college basketball writers have named Gonzaga one of their "Elite Teams to Beat" this season. Joining the Zags is Memphis, Michigan State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Purdue, and UCLA.

--Kennel Club shirts will be white this season. The past two seasons have had the students clad in red shirts and the change is a welcome one. We are very excited about the choice as it should stand out very well on TV. If your disappointed with the color this season, don't be...it seems to work well for Penn State.

--Lauren Ames posted a shutout for the lady Zags soccer team on Sunday afternoon against Weber State. The two teams battled to a scoreless draw. With the tie, the women's non-coference schedule has concluded and they will begin play in the difficult WCC. The draw moves Gonzaga to 5-6-2 on the year.

--Looking around at the WCC, Terrell Vinson shocked the recruiting world when he spurned Georgetown and Maryland to head west and play for Bill Bayno and Loyola Marymount. Vinson, the 81st best player in the nation per Rivals, is one of the best players to ever commit to a WCC school. It is also a tremendous get for the Lions because he attends high school across the country in Maryland. Congrats to LMU and Coach Bayno. The WCC is a fast rising conference and it looks like LMU will be right in the thick of things in years to come. For more on how the WCC recruited in 2008, check out our breakdown back in May.

--Looking at future Gonzaga opponents, we reported earlier that Nate Miles of Connecticut had been arrested for violation of a restraining order. The arrest has led to Miles' expulsion from the university. This should affect UConn this season as Miles was expected to contribute as a freshman. The Zags will take on the Huskies December 20th at Key Arena in Seattle. FYI...click here for a rundown of Connecticut basketball players who have been in trouble in the past. Very head scratching indeed.

Sunday Night Zag Tracks

We hope that you have been enjoying our opponent breakdowns thus far. We are anxiously anticipating the beginning of the season and will be breaking down one Gonzaga opponent a day. Tomorrow we will be beginning our breakdowns of the Old Spice Classic field. In other news...

--It was a busy day for Gonzaga soccer as both the men and women's team took the field today. The guys lost to rival Washington 2-1 in Seattle. Ben Funkhouser scored the only goal for the Zags in the match up between cross state foes. The Huskies have dominated the Gonzaga over the years, racking up an impressive 19-1-1 record. The win puts UW at 5-3-0 for the year and drops the Bulldogs to 4-3-1. The guys are back in action this coming weekend as they return home to take on San Francisco and Santa Clara.

--It was a very exciting women's soccer game today at Gonzaga Soccer Field, so exciting in fact that the game went into double overtime. The Zags (5-6-0) pulled out the win thanks to the excellent goal by Sheridan Jones in the 104th minute to give the ladies a 2-1 win. Sarah Rhodes scored the first goal for Gonzaga in the 57th minute but the Eagles quickly tied the game in the very next minute after a defensive error by the Zags. The ladies got a huge monkey off their back with today's victory. Gonzaga had been held scoreless in their previous four matches but a victory today gets them right back on track. Hopefully they can keep the momentum from this victory going as they will hit the road on Friday for a match up with Idaho State.

Tye Perdido Strikes Again

On a picture perfect day at Gonzaga Soccer Field, the men's team put on a show for the nearly 700 fans in attendance. TKR was on hand for one of the better finishes in Gonzaga soccer history. The men had a rough first 80 minutes against the University of Missouri- Kansas City but turned it on when it counted.

The Kangaroos of UMKC, who took down #2 ranked Creighton a week sooner, got on the board fast with a sixth minute goal by Brian Harris. By the start of the second half, the Zags were down by two goals. Both UMKC goals were on beautiful thru balls which Gonzaga had little chance to stop.

Beautiful passes were the theme of the game. The Zags took control of the game in the second half as they abused the Kangaroo goalie. Overall, the Zags finished with a whopping 25 shots. In the 53rd minute, Ben Funkhouser beat the Kangaroo keeper for the first goal of the game for the Bulldogs.

From here on in was the Tye Perdido (right) show. In the 88th minute, with time dwindling down on the Zags, Perdido had an outstanding header to even the score at two and subsequently force overtime in Spokane. From there on out, the Zags dominated the pitch. Peppering the net from every angle it was only a matter of time until the Zags beat the opposing goalie. When the goal came, who better than Tye Perdido to finish the Kangaroo's off. The junior striker, who has a definite future in the MLS, finished off the Kangaroos with an exquisite header to beat the leaping Kangaroo keeper.

It was an outstanding game between two apt squads. Come out and watch the Zags men's soccer team as they will be facing Cal State Bakersfield in the championship of the Nike Soccer Classic. Bakersfield took down Oregon State in Friday's opening game. Good luck to the men's team as they attempt to defend Gonzaga Soccer Field in the first annual Nike Soccer Classic.

-- The women's soccer team had a tough opener in the Colorado Soccer Classic on Friday. Sophomore keeper Lauren Ames was beaten in the 85th minute as the lady Zags were defeated by the Colorado Buffaloes. The #21 Buffs, a formidable opponent, were given a tough challenge by the bulldogs but could not finish in Boulder, Colorado.

The ladies will play the University of Denver Pioneers on Sunday at 10 A.M. in their finale of the Colorado Soccer Classic.

Exciting Weekend for GU Soccer

After a quiet week for the GU men and women's soccer teams, both will return to action in high profile tournaments this weekend. The men will be making their debut at the new Gonzaga Soccer Field, when they host the Gonzaga Nike Soccer Classic, while the women will be traveling to Colorado for the Colorado Soccer Classic. Both tournaments should provide the Zags with excellent competition, and a chance to face some high level opposition before WCC play.

- After spending the first month of the season on the road, the GU men's soccer team will finally get to play at their brand new stadium. The Bulldogs will be hosting the Gonzaga Nike Soccer Classic, which will see Oregon St., Cal State Bakersfield, and UMKC make the trip to Spokane. The team will be looking to build on their 1-1 performance at the UNLV Nike Invitational last weekend. It looked like the Zags were on their way to a tournament championship, but three unanswered goals from UC Riverside left the team stunned, as they fell 3-2 in the championship game. The loss in the finale dropped their record to 1-2-1 on the season.

The opening game of the tournament will see GU going up against UMKC. The Kangaroos have had a terrific start to the season, as they upset #2 ranked Creighton last weekend. This stunning win saw the Kangaroos received votes in the latest polls, and improved their record to 2-1-2. They are led offensively by the duo of Bryan Perez and Brian Harris, as both have scored three goals this season. This will be the 1st meeting between these two schools, and it will provide the men with a great test.

Opening kick will take place Friday afternoon at 4:00 PM, and it should be a great atmosphere for the home opener. The Zags will return to the field on Sunday at 2:00 PM, when they take on Cal State Bakersfield in the tournament finale.

- After a 4-game homestand, the women's team will be heading to Colorado, where they will compete in the Colorado Soccer Classic. The tournament should be an excellent taste for the ladies, as they will take on the Colorado Buffaloes and the Denver University Pioneers. Both teams were NCAA tournament participants last season, and the Buffaloes enter the tournament ranked #21 in the nation. The Bulldogs are coming off a disappointing loss to the University of Wyoming, and will be looking at this tournament as an excellent chance to make amends.

The first opponent for the team will be the #21 Colorado Buffaloes. The Buffs enter the game with a 5-1-1 record, and appear to be one of the elite teams in the country. They are led by Nikki Marshall, who has started this season in incredible form, and has been one of the top attackers in the country. Marshall leads her team with four goals and has recorded nine points already this season. It is imperative that the Bulldogs find someway to slow down Marshall if they are going to have a chance to win. The match will kickoff on Friday afternoon at 3:00 PM.

The ladies will take on Denver University in the finale on Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. This tournament will see the ladies take on two of the better teams in the country, and should prepare the team for the rigors of WCC play. A win in either game would be a great success, and if they play at their highest level, it is certainly possible.

Tough Day for GU Soccer

Both the men and women's soccer team took the field today, and it's safe to say that neither team got the result that they were hoping for. The men's team finished off the UNLV Nike Invitational with a crushing 3-2 defeat against UC Riverside, while the women's team fell 1-0 to Wyoming.

- After a solid victory over UNLV to kick off the UNLV Nike Invitational, the men's soccer team was looking for the tournament championship against UC Riverside. It was a game that saw the Bulldogs dominate UC Riverside for the first 60 minutes, as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Tim Muravez scored in the both the 43rd and 53rd minute, and it seemed that the Zags were well on their way to victory. Both goals came off corner kicks that were delivered by Ben Funkhouser, but the comfortable lead was short lived.

In the 56th minute, the Zags lead was cut in half, when UC Riverside scored on a chip shot from Nathan Patterson. The game was tied only seven minutes later, when Michael Vega scored off a free-kick. It seemed that the game was destined for overtime, but the Highlanders had other ideas. In the 88th minute, Robert Cate was able to get his head to a cross, and it as enough to give the Highlanders a 3-2 lead. However, the Bulldogs had a great chance to send the game to overtime, but Zach Smith saw his shot hit the crossbar with one second left in the game.

The guys will return to the field on Friday, when they will make their home debut at the new Gonzaga Soccer Field. They will be hosting the Gonzaga Nike Soccer Classic, and will take on UMKC at 4:00 PM on Friday. The tournament will continue on Sunday afternoon, when the Bulldogs will host CSUB at 2:00 PM.

- The women's soccer team took on the University of Wyoming in the final game of a four-game homestand for the ladies. In what turned out to be a very defensive game, the Bulldogs could not overcome an early goal from the Cowgirls, as they fell 1-0.

It was Wyoming who came out aggressive, as they pressured the GU goal throughout the first half. The Lady Zags were able to hold strong against the attack for much of the first half, but finally cracked in the 30th minute. After a string of pieces from the midfield, Amanda Lathrop saw herself alone in the middle of the GU defense, and she delivered a strong shot into the corner of the goal. There was nothing that Lauren Ames could do to keep the ball out of the net, and the Cowgirls were up 1-0.

Gonzaga turned up the pressure in the second half, but despite outshooting the Cowgirls 4-0, they were unable to find the net. Jessie Sorensen came close, but her shot was blocked, while both Ashley Riley and Courney Peacock could not convert good opportunities. With the loss, the Bulldogs drop to 4-3 on the season. They will certainly be disapointed at the 2-2 record they had during their four-game homestand.

The team will return to action on Friday, when they will play in the University of Colorado tournament next week. On Friday, the ladies will go up against the University of Colorado, who participated in the NCAA tournament last season. They will finish the tournament on Sunday, when they will challenge the University of Denver.

Late Goal Secures Victory for the Lady Zags

In front of a large crowd at the new Gonzaga Soccer Field, the women's soccer team secured a 1-0 victory against the University of Montana. The game was played in picture perfect conditions, and a large number of students came to enjoy the beautiful day and support the ladies. With the win, the Bulldogs improved their record to 4-2-0, while the Lady Grizzlies fell to 1-5-0.

It sure seems that the girls enjoy this new Gonzaga Soccer Field, as they came out and put on an impressive offensive display. In the first half, GU held control of the ball and attacked the goal on numerous occasions. All that was missing was their ability to finish in front of the net. Although they were able to outshoot the University of Montana 6-1, the Lady Zags had nothing to show for it, as the score was 0-0 at the half.

The second half began the way the first half ended, as the ladies continued to search for the elusive opening goal. Their patience paid off, as the deadlock was finally ended, when the Lady Zags found the net in the 72nd minute. Sarah Rhodes finished a beautiful pass from Christi D'Agostino, when she ripped a shot from fifteen yards out. While the goalie for the Lady Grizzlies was able to get a fingertip to the ball, she was not able to keep the strong shot from getting into the net. The goal marked the first of Sarah Rhodes' career, while it was the first assist of the season for D'Agostino. This was the only goal the Bulldogs would need, as Lauren Ames continued her great play in the net, and was able to record her third shutout of the season.

With the 1-0 win, the Lady Zags continue to build on their impressive start to the season. It seems that the team is clicking on all cylinders, and the play on the defensive end has been excellent. On Sunday afternoon, the ladies will finish off their four-game homestand, when they host the University of Wyoming. It should be another beautiful afternoon at the Gonzaga Soccer Field, and TKR would like to encourage everyone to support the women's soccer team, when they take the field at 1:00 PM.

Here are some pics from the game...

GU soccer gears up for huge weekend

This should be an exciting weekend for any fan of the GU soccer program, as both the men and women's soccer teams will be taking the field. Both teams will be looking to build on strong results in their last game, as the women were able to defeat Cal State Bakersfield, while the men were able to secure a draw against Oregon St.

- The women's soccer team will continue their four-match homestand on Friday, when they host the University of Montana. Spirits are high for the Lady Zags, as they were dominant in a 1-0 win over Cal State Bakersfield last weekend. The 1-0 score is misleading, as the Bulldogs outshot their opponent 9-5, and had a 7-0 edge in corner kicks. The University of Montana comes into the game with a 1-4 record this season. The Grizzlies were able to secure their first win of the season last Sunday, when they defeated the University of Wyoming. In an overtime thriller, the Grizzlies were able to edge the Cowboys, with a final score of 2-1.

Offensively, it has been the great play of Sheridan Jones that has led the team. Jones has already scored two goals this season, including the game-winner against Cal State Bakersfield. It should also be interesting to see what impact Courtney Peacock makes, as she was dynamic in her collegiate debut last match. Defensively, Lauren Ames will be seeking her third shutout of the season, and the fifth of her career.

- While the ladies will have the comfort of home field advantage, the men's soccer team will be playing at the UNLV Nike Invitational. This will be their first true tournament of the season, as they will take on both UNLV and UC Riverside this weekend. It has been a decent start to the season for the Zags as they go into the tournament with a record of 0-1-1. However, the loss to Creighton shouldn't be a shock, as the Blue Jays are currently ranked #2 in the nation.

The game against UNLV should be a very solid test for the Zags, as the Rebels enter the game with a 3-1 record. In his debut as GU goaltender last week, Scott Barnum, was able to keep Oregon St. off the scoreboard in a 0-0 draw. However, he will have to keep his eye on Rebels forward Daniel Cruz, who has scored three goals this season.

TKR hopes that the GU students can make it down to the brand new Gonzaga Soccer Field on Friday at 3:00 PM to support the Lady Zags. It should be an exciting atmosphere, and the new stadium is truly stunning. Also be sure to follow the men's soccer team this weekend, starting with their game against UNLV. The Zags will take the field Friday night at 7:00 PM for what promises to be an exciting encounter. Good luck to both teams, and hopefully they can put together a great weekend for GU athletics.

Soccer Sunday

While the news of Sam Dower verbally committing to GU is still making all GU fans smile, the performance of both the men and women's soccer team was noteworthy as well. Both teams took to the field today, and both came away with positive results.

- The Lady Zags continued their 4 game home stand, when they took on Cal State University Bakersfield earlier today. Looking to bounce back from a tough defeat to the University of Washington, the Lady Zags began the game dominating on the offensive end. The Lady Zags were able to get on the board in the 30th minute, when Sheridan Jones was able to score after a terrific pass from Courtney Peacock. Peacock was making her GU debut, and recorded her first career assist, while Sheridan scored her 2nd goal of the season. The Lady Zags were able to hold onto the 1-0 lead until the end, as Lauren Ames made three saves for the shutout. The 1-0 win improves the Lady Zags to 3-2 on the season. They return to the field on Friday, when they will take on the University of Montana at 3:00 PM. The game will be played at the new Gonzaga Soccer Field, and TKR encourages all GU fans to get out there and support the team.

- After a tough defeat to Creighton in their season opener, the men's soccer team traveled to take on Oregon State University. Although the game was not pretty by any stretch of the imagination, the Zags were able to battle their way to a 0-0 tie. The Zags were led by Scott Barnum, who recorded a shutout in his 1st career start as goalie for the Zags. Barnum was terrific in the net, as he made seven saves to help preserve the shutout. The Zags came close to scoring in overtime, but Collinn Harrison shot high from six yards out. This is certainly a good result for the Zags, as securing any points on the road is positive. This result puts the Zags at 0-1-1 on the season. The guys will return to the field next week, when they travel to UNLV. They will be participating in the UNLV Nike Invitational, and will be going up against both UNLV and UC Riverside next weekend.

Weekend Wrap

Today brought the end to an exciting and event filled week for GU athletics. TKR had some technical issues yesterday, so we will be doing a wrap-up to the sporting events from the weekend.

- The volleyball team finished off the Montana Invitational with a 1-3 record, as they lost both matches on Saturday. In the first match against North Dakota State, the Zags began with a spectacular first two sets, winning 25-22 and 25-13. However, the Zags could not keep up the performance and dropped the last three sets. The 3-2 loss was certainly disappointing for the Zags, as they had played so well early on in the match. In the final game of the tournament, the Zags were swept by UC Riverside. The Highlanders won with scores of 25-17, 25-20, 25-22. This was a difficult conclusion to the tournament for the Lady Zags, as they played well at times, but erratic throughout most of the tournament. Hopefully the Lady Zags can recover, as they will be traveling to Seattle for a tournament hosted by the University of Washington next week.

- The women's soccer team returned home today to host the University of Washington. The Lady Zags had won two straight matches, but today they could not overcome an 80th minute goal by the Huskies, as they fell 2-1. The Zags jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute, when Katie Spangenberg was able to score off a corner kick for her 1st goal in a Gonzaga uniform. However, two-second half goals from the Huskies sent the Zags to a tough 2-1 loss. The Lady Zags will be off until next Sunday, when they will host Cal State University Bakersfield.

Soccer Updates

Even though the school year has not started yet, the soccer teams are in full swing. Earlier today, both teams had games away from Spokane which resulted in a mixed bag. The men's team lost 4-1 to Creighton, a top 10 program. The women, on the other hand, won their second consecutive game in Moscow, Idaho against the University of Idaho.

--The men's team was only able to net one goal today against the powerful Creighton Bluejays. The only goal for the Zags came 53 minutes into the match when junior Tye Perdido beat the Creighton goalie with an excellent header. Perdido's goal tied the game up at 1 but the Bluejays went on to score 3 unanswered goals to bury the Zags. Creighton outshot the bulldogs 13-6 in the game.

The men's team has a nice break as their next game will take place a week from Sunday when they travel to Corvalis to take on Oregon State.

--The women's team fared much better today in Idaho as they took it to the Vandals 3-1 today. The star of the game for the bulldogs was sophomore Ashley Riley who had a goal and an assist in Gonzaga's romp of Idaho. Riley's goal came 44 seconds into the game and the Zags never looked back. Sophomore Sheridan Jones and senior Lauren Dascenzo added the other two Gonzaga goals.

The lady Zags will return to Spokane for a nice four game home stand which they kick off on Sunday against the University of Washington at 1 P.M.

Women's soccer hits the road

After getting their 1st win of the year, the GU women's soccer team will be looking to for two in a row when they take on the University of Idaho. The Lady Zags are coming off a solid victory over Portland State University, as they got a 1-0 win at the debut of the new Gonzaga soccer field. The Zags also be looking for some revenge tomorrow, as last season the Vandals defeated GU 2-0 in Spokane.

The Lady Zags showed great team spirit, as they were able to recover from the 4-0 loss to Long Beach State that kicked off their season. The 1-0 win over Portland State should serve as great momentum, and the Lady Zags have a great opportunity to get to 2-1 on the season. It was the first career goal by sophomore defender Christi D'Agostino that enabled the Zags to get the victory, but it was an all around excellent team effort.

Traveling to Moscow will not be an easy task for the Lady Zags. The University of Idaho started their season with a tough 2-1 loss to in double overtime to Cal State University Bakersfield. The Vandals are coming off a 5-12-1 season, and have set the goal of reaching their first ever WAC tournament. Idaho is led by captains Aimee Goss and Kelsey Manning, and will certainly be difficult to defeat in Moscow.

TKR wants to wish the women's soccer the best of luck as they make the difficult trip to Moscow. Hopefully the ladies can build on their 1st win of the season, and build some momentum before they host the University of Washington on August 31st.

Zags Christen New Soccer Field with a Big Win

The Gonzaga University women's soccer team beat a University from Portland...well not the powerhouse Portland Pilots but still posted an impressive shutout against Portland State University.

Both teams were looking for their first win of the seasons as each lost their season opener. The lady Zags proved victorious thanks to a goal by junior Christi D'Agostino. The Bulldogs improved to 1-1-0 on the young season and dropped Portland State to 0-2-0. The 1-0 score was quite misleading as a majority of the game was played in the Vikings zone but the Zags were unable to capitalize until the second half. Gonzaga also out shot their opponent 14-8. The Gonzaga defense also stepped up big and never really allowed a serious scoring opportunity until a few minutes after D'Agostino's goal but Lauren Ames was able to squash that attempt. Ames finished with three saves to post the shutout.

The Bulldogs will take on the University of Idaho in Moscow before coming home to host hated rival Washington a week from today at 1 P.M.

Lady Zags looking to rebound against Portland State

After a difficult start to their season, the women's soccer team will get a chance to secure their 1st victory of the season, when they take on the Portland State Vikings on Sunday. The Lady Zags kicked their season off with a tough 4-0 loss at Long Beach State, but should like their chances against Portland State.

Portland State also started their season with a loss, as they fell 2-1 to Oregon State. The Vikings fell behind 2-0 in Corvallis, but were able to make it an exciting finish, when they scored in the 75th minute. Much like the Lady Zags, the Vikings were dominated on the offensive end, as they were out shot 20-2. The Vikings return 15 letter-winners from last season, but are welcoming in a new head coach, and a huge freshman class. The freshman will be looking to compete for immediate playing time. The Vikings do return 4 All Big-Sky performers from last season, but seem to be a team that is in transition.

Portland State should give the Zags a chance to record their first win of the season. This will also be the debut of the new Gonzaga soccer field, so it should be quite the environment tomorrow. TKR hopes everyone will go and support the Lady Zags, and also take the opportunity to check out the beautiful new stadium

Tough start for Lady Zags

Earlier today, the Lady Zags fell in their season opener, losing 4-0 to the Long Beach State University 49ers. Taking on a highly skilled and experienced squad, the Zags gave up two goals in each half and couldn't handle the great attacking ability of the 49ers. Hopefully, the Lady Zags can put this behind them, as they will be returning to action on Sunday.

While the Zags started the game brightly, it was the 49ers that got on the board first. In the 22nd minute, Kristen Kiefer scored the 1st of her two goals, by scoring off a 49ers corner kick. Kiefer added her 2nd goal of the game in the 44th minute, as she scored on a rebound to give the 49ers a 2-0 lead at the half. LBSU made it 3-0 in the 55th minute, with their second goal off a corner kick. This time it was Nicole Hubbard, who was able to get her head to the ball and score off the corner. Not surprisingly, the 49ers were not done converting their corner kick opportunities into goals. In the 77th minute, Hayley Bolt was able to get her head to a cross and make the score 4-0. This capped off a tremendous offensive performance by the 49ers, which out shot the Lady Zags 22-2.

This was certainly a disappointing start to the season, but the Lady Zags get a chance to turn around their fortune on Sunday. They will be hosting the Portland State Vikings, in the inaugural game at the new Gonzaga soccer field. The game will kickoff at 1 P.M, and TKR encourages everyone to get out there and check out the new stadium, and also support the Lady Zags.

Lady Zags vs. LBSU

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the fall sports schedule for Gonzaga athletics. The women's soccer team will start it all, as they travel to take on the Long Beach State 49ers. This will be an excellent challenge for the Lady Zags, as LBSU returns 10 starters from a team that was co-champions of the Big West this past season. The 49ers have won a share of the regular season conference championship the past two years, and seem prime for a huge season.

The biggest challenge for the Lady Zags will be matching up with the midfield combo of Kim Silos and Hayley Bolt. Both have won Big West Player of the Year awards during their time at LBSU, and will be a force to deal with. The 49ers also welcome Shawna Gordon, who was a top-75 recruit, and a member of the U-17 U.S National team. LBSU was picked to finish 2nd in the Big West coaches poll, trailing only UCSB.

The Lady Zags will be led by a great group of upperclassmen and a terrific incoming recruiting class. The Lady Zags feature a great group of seniors, highlighted by All-WCC second team selection Kelcey Goddard. They also return Lauren Ames, who as a freshman, was terrific in the net, and was selected to the WCC All-Freshman team. The incoming recruiting class is one of the finest GU has ever put together, and was considered one of the best on the west coast. GU fans should be looking for immediate contributions from both Ashley Railey and Sarah Rhodes.

Be sure to follow the Lady Zags tomorrow at 1 P.M, and hopefully they can set the tone for the entire fall sports season with a huge win. It will certainly be a huge challenge for the girls, but they have a great opportunity to start the season with an enormous road victory. TKR wishes the girls great luck, and we are sure they will put together a terrific performance.

Women's Soccer Picked 6th

The coaches of the WCC have spoken, and the Lady Zags have been picked to finish 6th in the WCC this season. In a preseason vote done by the coaches, Portland recieved 7 of 8 possible 1st place votes, and was the runaway favorite to repeat as WCC champions. The Lady Zags return 6 starters from last years squad, inluding all-conference performers, Kelcey Goddard and Lauren Ames. The Zags are also bringing in one of the top recruiting classes on the West Coast, so hopefully the Lady Zags can prove these rankings wrong, and climb up the standing of the WCC.

Here is the poll, with 1st place votes in parentheses.

1) Portland- 49 (7)
2) Stanta Clara- 42 (1)
3) San Diego- 37
4) LMU- 30
5) Pepperdine- 24
6) Gonzaga- 22
7) USF- 11
8) St. Mary's- 9

2008 Women's soccer schedule released

The 2008 women's soccer schedule has been released, and the Lady Zags will be challenged throughout the season. The highlights of the schedule are the 4 games against NCAA Tournament teams from last year, as well as the opening of the new Gonzaga soccer stadium.

Along with the WCC schedule, the Lady Zags will also be participating in the Colorado Soccer Classic. This tournament will feature 2 NCAA tournament teams from this past season, with both Denver and Colorado taking part in the tournament. The new stadium will host the first of its 10 games this season, when the Lady Zags host Portland State on August 24. The regular season wraps up when the Lady Zags travel to Santa Clara on November 8.

Be sure to check out the Lady Zags play this season, and soak in the beautiful Gonzaga soccer stadium.