Nov. 10, 2002
Box Score
Los Angeles, Calif., - Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002 - The 11th-ranked Loyola Marymount University men's soccer team recorded a 1-0 win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon at Sullivan Field in front of a crowd of 734. Lion sophomore Matt Kovar scored his second career goal giving the Lions the win.
The Lions improve to 14-2-2 overall and 4-1-0 in the West Coast Conference with the win while the Bulldogs fall to 5-9-1 overall/2-2-1 in the WCC.
LMU completely dominated the game offensively rifling off a season-high 30 shots in the game to Gonzaga's seven. Despite the lopsided shot totals, Gonzaga was kept in the game by an unbelievable performance from its goalkeeper Mike McCarthy. Of the 30 shots that McCarthy was peppered with 13 were on goal. McCarthy made 12 saves in the game including saving a penalty kick attempt by Lion junior Michael Erush. McCarthy wasn't the only one showcasing his talents. Lion goalkeeper Adam Sthay made a game saving stop in the second half on a breakaway by Bulldog Connor Quinn. Quinn would later pick up two yellow card cautions and have to sit out the remainder of the game.
The Lions came out roaring from the start. Senior Michael Coakley set the tone of the game early with a shot in the sixth minute that had McCarthy beat right. McCarthy and the Bulldogs got some help from a muddy patch in front of the goal where the ball just died allowing the keeper to recover and punch the ball out. The Lions kept attacking though and took a 10-5 shots advantage into the half.
LMU's relentless offensive attack did not let up in the second half. The Lions, playing a man up after Quinn's ejection from the game, found the back of the net on a set play from a corner kick. Senior Andres Murriagui took the kick and fed it into Kovar for the game-winner. The assist was Murriagui's sixth of the year, he is now tied for the team lead with junior Kevin Novak.
The Lions go on the road to round out the regular season on the road. LMU heads to Santa Clara, Calif., to take on the Santa Clara Broncos on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m.
-GO LIONS-
