Oct. 16, 2009

Box Score | Photo Gallery

Los Angeles - LMU extended its unbeaten run to seven games with a 2-1 victory over Gonzaga in a West Coast Conference match on Friday afternoon at Sullivan Field. The Lions (9-3-2, 1-0-1 WCC) stayed perfect at home, running their record to 6-0-0 while sending the Bulldogs (6-8-0, 0-2-0 WCC) to their fifth straight loss. The win was also the 150th in the history of women's soccer at LMU as the Lions are now one victory away from recording their fourth straight season of 10-or-more wins.

The Lions wasted no time in jumping to a lead, going ahead 2-0 after just 22 minutes. LMU opened the scoring after just 10 minutes through the hustle and quick reflexes of junior Kelley Lawson. After junior Julie Gallaudet had beaten the Gonzaga defense down the left side, she cut inside to shoot, only to see her far-post attempt come back off the post. Lawson was quickest to pounce on the rebound, sliding in to slot home into an empty net for her third goal of the season and fourth of her career. The assist was an historic one for Gallaudet, who tied the school record with her eighth of the year.

Just over 10 minutes later, the Lions had doubled their advantage through senior Lacey Bartels' third goal of the year. Senior Tiffany Harrison swung in a ball from the left and Bartels settled on it in the box, sending her shot off the underside of the crossbar. The ball bounced straight down and came out but the assistant referee on the far side was in perfect position and immediately waved his flag to signal that the ball had, in fact, crossed the line. For Bartels, LMU's active leader in goals, it was her third game-winning goal of the season and 10th tally of her career.

LMU seemed to be cruising, reaching double-digit shots by halftime in taking the 2-0 lead into the locker room. Having yet to concede a goal at home and riding a streak of six straight home clean sheets, the Lions were poised to extend that streak to seven, if not for Sheridan Jones' late consolation goal. With five minutes left, Jones took a pass from Sarah Rhodes in the middle of the box and beat senior Allyssa Clark low and to her right to give the Bulldogs some hope. They would not get off a shot for the rest of the game, however, as the Lions won their fourth straight in the series and improved to 13-2-2 all-time against Gonzaga.

Clark finished with four saves to extend her WCC-leading total to 68. Alicia Berggren, making her first career start, had two saves for Gonzaga. LMU held a 13-9 shot advantage and improved to 6-0-0 this year when out-shooting its opponents.

In the 17th season of women's soccer at LMU, the Lions have reached 150 program wins in 320 games. The program holds an overall record of 150-133-37 for a winning percentage of .527. With one more victory, the Lions will reach 10 for the fourth straight season and 10th time in their history.

LMU goes for that 10th win on Sunday against defending conference champions and #2-ranked Portland. The game will kick off at noon and be a part of an LMU soccer doubleheader, with the Lion men taking on Saint Mary's at 3 p.m.