After an inauspicious season-opener, Becca Moros has her team starting to roll. After shaking off the weather-delayed loss at GCU with a 2-0 home-opener victory against New Mexico State, Arizona Soccer used a second-half-rally to take down the Gonzaga Bulldogs 2-1 for its first road-victory of the season.
Despite the slow start, the Wildcats were the better offensive team through the full 90 minutes. Arizona finished with a 12-8 advantage in shots, including a 7-5 edge in shots on goal. Gonzaga had the edge on corner kicks, 4-1, and four less fouls than the UA (14-10).
Gonzaga took an early lead with a goal from midfielder Samantha Snorsky in the 29′. Arizona had a one-shot advantage (4-3) at the half, but otherwise, both sides recorded a save and had one corner kick opportunity in what was a fairly equal first half.
It was Becca Moros’ adjustments in the second half that made the difference for Arizona. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Laurynn Ziller replaced Sofia Cortes-Browne in the net, providing a spark for the Wildcats on defense. After taking three shots in the first half, Gonzaga ramped up the offensive pressure with five shots. But it was Ziller who came up with the clean sheet, finishing with three saves and zero goals allowed in 45 minutes.
Arizona also got things going offensively, another nod to Moros. After checking in for the last 20 minutes of the first half, sophomore forward Mireya Stephenson returned to the pitch in the 64′, giving the Wildcats a huge spark on offense. Four minutes later in the 68′, Stephenson connected on the equalizer to knot the score up at 1-1. But it wasn’t enough to satisfy the young striker, who found the back of the next for her second goal in the 73′.
The Wildcats nearly scored two more goals in the second half, one in the 66′ and another in the 67′, but both were taken off the board with offsides calls.
Arizona returns to State 48, but not Tucson, for its next game. The Wildcats will face the LSU Tigers on Sunday, August 30, at 10:00 AM MST at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium in Tempe.