Sept. 3, 2010

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - LMU got first half goals from freshmen Tata Gilmer and Tawni Martino then withstood a barrage of Utah shots to hold on for a 2-0 win Friday night in front of 1,001 fans in Salt Lake City. The Lions (3-1-0) have now won three in a row in handing the Utes (0-5-0) their fifth straight defeat and ruining their home opener.

LMU continues to get stellar play from its freshman class as Martino scored for the third consecutive game while Gilmer found the net for the first time as a collegian. At the other end of the field, redshirt freshman Brittany Jagger recorded her first career shutout by stopping 11 shots, the third-highest single-game tally in school history.

It was an offensive-oriented night for both sides as the teams combined for 37 shots, with Utah holding a 25-12 advantage. The Lions were the more accurate of the two squads, however, putting 10 of their 12 shots on goal compared to 11 of 25 for the Utes. That accuracy paid off in the form of two goals in the span of three minutes that decided the contest.

There had been 12 shots already by the time the game turned on Gilmer's goal at 28:10. Senior Julie Gallaudet received a pass in the box and got off a nearly point-blank shot that was saved by Utah goalkeeper Hannah Turpen. The rebound fell to Gilmer, who volleyed it home from about six yards out.

Three minutes later, Martino doubled LMU's advantage with Gallaudet again involved in the play, playing a pass from the right side that found Martino in the box. The reigning WCC Player of the Week made it four goals in her last three games, one-timing her finish to make it 2-0.

From that point on, it was up to Jagger and the LMU defense to preserve the shutout. Utah out-shot the Lions 14-3 in the second half but Jagger was equal to every task. Her 11 saves tied Allyssa Clark's tally against Oregon State on September 13, 2009, for the third-most in a single-game in LMU history.

Turpen finished with eight saves for the Utes, who have now been shut out in each of their last four contests. In addition to its edge in shots, Utah also held a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks.

After two straight victories on the road, LMU returns to Sullivan Field for five of its next six matches. The string starts with a visit by Tennessee-Martin on Sunday in game one of a Lion soccer doubleheader. The women are slated to kick off at 1 p.m., followed by the LMU men taking on Cal State Northridge at 4 p.m.