UP bests rival Gonzaga squad 4-0 en route to 13-1 record
By Kyle Cape-Lindelin, Staff Writer -- capelind13@up.edu
If there is a black mark on the Pilot women's soccer team this season, it has been their struggle to score early in games.
However, that mark is fading as three freshmen stepped up to score for the Pilots against WCC rival Gonzaga (5-8-2). The trio was led by Micaela Capelle, who scored twice for the Pilots in the first half alone. Ellen Parker and Amanda Frisbie, the other freshmen to contribute, scored insurance goals in the second half.
"This was a good win to start out interconference play and will certainly build momentum carrying forward," Head Coach Garrett Smith said following the win. "To be able to shut out rivals like Gonzaga makes it pretty special as well."
Playing in Spokane, Wash. on Sunday, Oct. 10, the Pilots applied constant defensive pressure on the Bulldogs, opening many opportunities offensively in the game. Capelle scored her first goal at the 10-minute mark, finishing a cross p ass from Parker for the goal.
Capelle provided the offense again in the 34th minute. Senior captain Keelin Winters sent a cross pass through the box where Gonzaga's goalkeeper was able to tip it. Capelle was left unmarked right where the ball bounced and she easily scored her team-leading ninth goal to push the Pilots up 2-0.
"It was amazing scoring those goals and being able to do it earlier then we usually have," Capelle said. "It really gave us confidence and cushion."
Parker continued the offensive strikes in the 64th minute when she buried in her own rebound after her first shot was blocked by a Gonzaga defender for her first career goal. Frisbie came off the bench and scored a one-on-one goal against the goalkeeper in the 74th minute for the final blow to Gonzaga. Frisbie stealthily tapped the ball around the oncoming goalkeeper to score easily for her second career goal.
"It's really excellent how these freshmen are consistently performing, and it shows how hard they've worked and how committed they are to getting better," Smith said.
Both Pilot goalkeepers got some playing time in this game. Junior Hailee DeYoung started and recorded one save in her time. Freshman Erin Dees came in at the 75-minute mark and also made a save. The Pilots won the shot attempts 18-9 while continuing their dominance in the WCC as they built on their winning streak of 22 games against WCC opponents.
The Pilots head home to defend their nation-leading 32 game home-field winning streak against fellow WCC opponents Loyola Marymount on Friday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Pepperdine on Sunday, Oct. 17. at noon.
