Broncos Start Early To Knock Off WSU
College soccer
The last thing Washington State University wanted to happen happened first.
Just 90 seconds into its soccer match against Santa Clara, Broncos midfielder Jacqui Little dribbled a shot past Cougars goalkeeper Shannon Wilson from inside the 6-yard box.
From there, the NSCAA/Umbro seventh-ranked team went on to beat the Cougars 3-0 before more than 450 spectators on a gusty Friday afternoon at the Cougar Soccer Field. “It’s probably the second time it’s happened,” said Washington State coach Lisa Gozley, whose team dropped to 1-3-0. “It’s a focus thing and we’re going to make a change in that position.”
In four games, Wilson, a freshman from Las Vegas, has given up 10 goals. Last year, the Cougars allowed 16 goals in 17 matches with Jessica Glazer in the cage. However, Glazer is on a medical leave and Gozley must search for a solution.
“It’s my fault,” said Wilson, reflecting on the opening goal. “It was just a matter where I should have caught the ball.
“They could have blown it into the goal with their mouth.”
The goal was set up by Mandy Clemens, who got off a right cross to Little. Clemens scored the Broncos’ other two goals, her first and second of the season. She was going for the hat trick, but missed an open-netter in the opening minutes of the second half. The sophomore forward leads all West Coast players with seven assists.
Santa Clara, improving to 4-0-0, took 17 shots. Wilson was credited with four saves, all in the second half. The Cougars’ offense didn’t help their cause, getting off five shots in the match, just one in the second half, by Shalli DeWitt.
WSU had two corner kicks to Santa Clara’s nine, but neither team converted.
Twenty-five minutes after their first goal, the Broncos scored again on a beautiful header by Clemens off a pass from Kylie Bivens. The play caught usually reliable Meagin Donovan and Christina Pallan flat-footed. Donovan did not play the entire second half because of a sore right ankle.
The Cougars’ best chance to score came at 10:16 into the first half. Deka DeWitt and Randy Glas broke away from the defenders. At about the 25-yard mark, DeWitt passed to Glas, who got off a clean header that sailed over the crossbar.
The final goal, at 55:51, was set up by Lisa Nanez to Clemens, who cut between Pallan and Glas for the score.
“They’ve got some very good players on their team,” said Broncos coach Jerry Smith, who mentioned he recruited Deka DeWitt. “I think they have a very good broad-base ability. It’s a tough team to play against.”
Santa Clara travels to Gonzaga for a West Coast Conference game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Santa Clara 3, WSU 0
First half - 1, SCU, Little (Clemens) 1:27; 2, SUC, Clemens (Bivens) 27:26. Second half 3, SCU, Clemens (Nanez), 55:51.
Shots on goal: WSU 5, SCU 17. Corner kicks: WSU 2, SCU 9. Goal saves: WSU 4 (Wilson), SCU 2 (Leonard 1, Gordon 1.) Cautions and ejections: 18:13, SCU, Clemens (yellow); 52:36 WSU, Coffey (yellow) 53:52, SCU, Bivens (yellow); 72:05, SCU, Horvath (yellow).
, DataTimes