SPOKANE, Wash. – The Gonzaga University women’s soccer team snapped a 3-match losing skid with a 1-0 shutout victory over Pacific-12 Conference member Oregon State University Sunday at the Gonzaga Soccer Field.  The Bulldogs second shutout of the year improved their record to 2-3, while the loss dropped the Beavers to 1-6-1 overall.

“I was really proud of the team’s effort today,” Zag head coach Amy Edwards stated simply after the win.

Gonzaga tallied its goal – which would become the game winner – in the 27^th minute. Junior midfielder Tori Lee, who is becoming a master on set pieces, took the Bulldogs second corner kick of the match and bent the ball perfectly into the upper back corner of the net. It was Lee’s first goal of the season and fifth of her career.

“Give Tori the credit on the service of the corner kick,” explained Edwards. “It was critical for our players to get those dynamic runs into the box though to make their goalkeeper freeze.”

It looked like Bulldogs had scored an insurance goal midway thru the second half but the goal was waved off due to GU being offsides.

The Zags continued to be dangerous in the final 45 minutes, with sophomore midfielder Kellyn Nelson and freshman midfielder Kristin Hayman each getting off great scoring opportunities. Nelson redirected a free kick with her head that sailed wide left of the goal in the 62^nd minute, while Hayman had back-to-back shots in the 77^th minute; the first was blocked by a Beaver defender and the second lofted wide right of the goal.

Gonzaga used 19 total players to help secure the victory; something Edwards believed was critical in the win.

“The depth on our team has made us a more complete and more dangerous pressing team,” stated Edwards. “It has allowed us to take a few more risks and it has showed the cohesiveness that the players have off the field has found its way onto the field as well.”

The Bulldogs ended the match with the 15-9 advantage in shots and the 8-1 edge in corner kicks.

GU sophomore keeper Christie Tombari made four saves in the match to secure the shutout victory.

“Getting the shutout is huge for us,” Edwards said. “In the first part of the season we gave up early goals and it was a great confidence boost today to not give up a goal in the first half and then to finish it off getting the shutout. It is big for our whole team; not just our backs and goalkeeper but for all of us.”

Gonzaga returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Eastern Washington University at the Gonzaga Soccer Field. Match time is set for 4 p.m.

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