OSU women blank Gonzaga
September 18, 1998
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State got goals from Lindy Brown, Beth Thomason and Sunny Miller on Friday afternoon as the Beavers opened their home season with a 3-0 win over Gonzaga in non-league womens soccer. Goalkeepers Elizabeth Pease and Wendy Matson combined on the shutout for OSU (2-3-0 overall), which plays host to Portland State at 5 p.m. Wednesday on Paul Lorenz Field at Patrick Wayne Valley Stadium.
Oregon State dominated play against Gonzaga (1-4-1), outshooting the Bulldogs 26-3. The Beavers couldnt get on the board until the 39th minute, though, when Brown rebounded a missed header by Coral Slater to make it 1-0.
"I felt if we kept moving the ball wed get some success, and eventually we did," said OSU head coach Steve Fennah, whose team broke a two-game losing streak. "We kept our shape, offensively and defensively, through the midfield ... it was a good way to start our homestand. Gonzaga has done all right this year. We talked about getting back in the win column and getting our record back in the win column."
Browns goal was the 15th of her career, moving her into sole possession of seventh place on OSUs all-time list. The score also gave her 42 points for her career, moving her into a tie for seventh place on the schools all-time list in that category.
With the score still 1-0, Gonzaga got aggressive early in the second half and forced play into the Beavers end of the field.
"They had their spell," Fennah said. "The nice thing was, we had talked about the game going in spells. Wed had a tendency previously that when the other team got its spell, we got our heads down and didnt regroup.
"But today we made a couple of changes and the players that stayed in got organized, and we didnt give up any goals. Those spells had cost us goals before, but today we weathered it without giving up a goal and we finished strong."
The Beavers made it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Beth Thomason ran up the right side and chipped the ball over GU keeper Gina Legaz. Just over four minutes later, OSUs Sunny Miller ran onto a misplayed ball outside the Bulldog box and lined it into the net for a 3-0 lead.
"Were starting to see the type of way wed like to play," Fennah said. "Were knocking the ball around. Wed said before the season that it wouldnt be easy and we could have some success smacking the ball and chasing it, but we need to develop our style and were starting to see that."
The shutout was the first recorded by the Beavers since they beat Eastern Washington 6-0 in a home game on Sept. 27, 1997.
OREGON STATE 3, GONZAGA 0
Gonzaga 0 0 - 0
Oregon State 1 2 - 3
Scoring:
OSU - Lindy Brown (assist by Coral Slater), 38:30. OSU - Beth Thomason (unassisted), 66:40. OSU - Sunny Miller (unassisted), 70:43.
Shots: GU 3, OSU 26. Corners: GU 6, OSU 7. Saves: GU 12, OSU 1. Fouls: GU 10, OSU 15.
