MORAGA, Calif. - The Saint Mary's Women's Soccer Team couldn't find the back of the net in a 1-0 loss to Gonzaga Saturday afternoon at Saint Mary's Stadium, despite outshooting the Zags 6-4. The loss drops the Gaels to 9-3-4 overall and 3-2-2 in the West Coast Conference.
 
The Gaels had quite a few scoring chances in a crisp, well-played game between the two teams but would either have some shots miss the target or were a bit indecisive on whether to pass or shoot as they looked to set up the optimal scoring chance.
 
SMC wasted little time putting pressure on the Zags, as Alexis Gutierrez blasted a shot in the 7^th minute that forced a diving shot from the Gonzaga keeper and resulted in a corner kick. That corner kick led to a great chance for Maya Alcantara who directed a header just wide of the net on a play that looked similar to the goal she scored earlier this season against Portland.
 
Three minutes later AnnaMaria DiGeronimo fired one just high as the ball landed on the top of the net, and in the 26^th minute Emily Jensen's shot forced a save from the Gonzaga keeper and resulted in a corner kick, but the Gaels couldn't generate a shot on the corner piece.
 
The Gaels had another good opportunity in the in the 38^th minute when Nayeli Diaz raced ahead with the ball and had numbers against the Gonzaga defense. Rather than shoot the ball herself she passed over to Suzuna Shibukawa who had her shot from just outside the penalty area blocked.
 
One minute later the Zags broke the scoreless tie as Isabelle Moultray raced ahead, flicked a pass to Marissa Garcia who lifted a tough-angle shot over the defense and keeper Taylor Poland from the left side all the way to the right corner of the net to make it 1-0 Bulldogs.
 
In the second half the Zags did a good job of being aggressive defensively to give the Gaels very little time to move the ball or set up their offense as Gonzaga played the passing lanes well.
 
It wasn't until the 72^nd minute that the Gaels had another good chance as DiGeronimo missed just high and it happened again in the 83^rd minute with the Sandy, Utah native getting even closer than she did on her previous two shots that missed high.
 
A flurry of shots by the Gaels in the final five minutes were all blocked as DiGeronimo, Jensen, Gutierrez, and DiGeronimo again all had their shots stopped before they could get to the net despite some great effort and creativity offensively.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels will travel to San Diego to take on the Toreros Wednesday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m. for their last road game of the season.

#GaelsRise — Single game tickets are on sale this weekend! To select your game and your tickets, click HERE!