USC ends Zags’ streak, season with 1-0 soccer win

FULLERTON, Calif. – The first goal scored against Gonzaga in more than a month doomed the Bulldogs’ hopes of advancing in their first appearance in the NCAA Division I women’s soccer tournament.

Leah Gallegos’ header gave USC a 1-0 victory in Friday night’s first-round game of the College Cup in front of 1,288 at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.

Until Gallegos’ goal, Gonzaga (12-4-4) had held opponents scoreless for six consecutive games and 648 successive minutes. No team had scored against the Bulldogs since they lost 2-0 to Portland on Oct. 9.

Until Gallegos’ goal, Gonzaga controlled most of the play against the Trojans (13-5-2), who had won six of their previous seven games.

For most of the first half, the Bulldogs applied constant pressure in USC’s half of the field, forcing the Trojans into counterattacks.

Cristin Leverson had the best chance to give Gonzaga an early lead. After a give-and-go with Christine Soma, Leverson fired an 11-yard shot that USC goalkeeper Veronica Simonton blocked while on her right side in the 17th minute.

“We dominated possession in the first half,” Gonzaga coach Shannon Stiles said. “Christine created chance after chance. They had to make a substitution to try and neutralize her and the substitute didn’t do it.

“We were able to get behind their defense. We produced enough chances to win. We just weren’t very composed on the ball in the first half and we didn’t put away the chances we created.”

That lack of composure would sabotage the Bulldogs’ tactical discipline. USC found more spaces to attack and took advantage in the 49th minute.

Rosa Anna Tantillo took a 28-yard free kick from the left flank. Gallegos ran into the goal crease and headed the ball from 5 yards past goalkeeper Ashley Haugen.

“They’re a really athletic team,” Gonzaga forward Nanda McCormick said. “Lots of times, we come off being the more athletic team. We’ll wear teams down. But they were able to pass people through the middle and get in and out of us.”

Gallegos’ goal proved to be the turning point in less obvious ways.

“Part of your game is having composure and confidence,” Stiles said. “When you’re one goal down, you start to force things and you start to give up possession.”

Meanwhile, USC held McCormick without a shot. Freshman defenders Meagan Holmes – who starts for the United States’ under-19 team – and Janessa Currier constantly shadowed the Bulldogs’ leading scorer.

Leverson had the best chance to tie the score, but Simonton punched away the sophomore’s 8-yard line drive in the 70th minute.

Simonton and Haugen each finished with three saves.

Despite a loss that ended the Bulldogs’ six-game unbeaten streak, Stiles believes her program has reached a turning point.

“Anytime you can create success, (the players) get a taste of what it feels like,” Stiles said. “There’s not one kid sitting in that locker room right now who feels great about making the tournament and losing in the first game.”

•Gonzaga had six players earn all-West Coast Conference honors, including first team goalkeeper Ashley Haugen. Haugen, a senior, set school single-season records in shutouts (11), fewest goals allowed (14) and goals against average (0.70).

Freshman Lori Conrad earned second team honors and became the second Bulldog to earn an all-freshman selection. Conrad was joined on the second team by junior Beth Drollinger and sophomore Christine Soma. Senior Stacey Sarro and sophomore Lauren Zuckerman earned honorable mention.