Nov. 13, 2009

Final Stats

(Spokane, WA) - San Francisco earned the 2-1 victory over Gonzaga in West Coast Conference soccer action at Gonzaga Soccer Field in Spokane, WA on a cold and dreary rain/snow mixed Friday afternoon. The Dons (7-9-2, 4-6-1 WCC) avenge the 2-0 loss suffered at the hands of the Bulldogs at Negoesco Stadium on October 18, and drop the Zags to 6-10-3, 3-8-1 WCC.

Senior forward Conor Chinn scored his 10th goal of the season and earned the game winner. Freshman forward Oscar Englund sent a soft cross from the right about 18 yards out and Chinn low-tipped it into the right side of the goal to make it 2-0 USF with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Englund had put the Dons up 1-0 at the 67 minute mark on an unassisted shot that just caught the upper left V of the goal.

Chinn's goal was the 37th of his career and vaulted the senior All-American into a share of seventh place on the Dons career goals list with two-time First Team All-American Staale Soebye (1991-94). It was also the 12th career game-winner for Chinn, who has recorded six goals in WCC matches this season.

Trying to make a late comeback, the Bulldogs found the back of the net with just eight seconds left on the clock to cut the score in half, 2-1. Zach Smith pushed a soft shot passed Dons freshman keeper Brendan Roslund. Philippe Garre earned an assist on the play.

Roslund (6-6-0) earns the victory with two saves in the second half, while Zags Scott Barnum (6-10-3) took the loss with six saves. USF's senior Franco Carotenuto earned two saves in the first half.

USF held advantages in shots 16-12 and corner kicks 8-0. Chinn led the Dons with nine shots, followed by Englund with three. Sophomore defender Victor Wennberg, freshman midfielder Vinny Caloiaro, senior midfielder Jonathan Levi, and junior forward Bryan Burke each had one shot in the contest.

"It was a good win. It was very nice to see in very adverse conditions," USF head coach Erik Visser said. "I thought overall we played a very good game. We got off to a great start and were able to maintain the momentum in the snow. Now we just have to finish strong and match this effort Sunday at Portland in our finale."

San Francisco closes out the 2009 season at Portland on Sunday, November 15. Game time is set for 3:00 PM.