MORAGA, Calif - SMC shutout the top offensive team in the country on Saturday afternoon, with a 1-0 win over a Gonzaga squad who is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll.

The Zags were averaging 3.38 goals per game to lead the nation coming into the match, but Taylor Poland and the Saint Mary's defense shut them out by stopping all 10 of Gonzaga's shots on goal. 

SMC put up early shots with attempts in the first three minutes by Jesse Hawes and Kyllie Glock, with Glock's requiring a save by Bulldogs goalkeeper Lauren Towne. In the 14th minute, Kelsey Oyler from the Bulldogs made a slick pass through the middle in between the Gaels defense, setting up Paige Alexander with a shot that clanked off the left post, keeping the game scoreless. 

Taylor Poland would keep the Zags off the board from there, and made three saves for the Gaels in the fourth, ninth, and 11th minute to swing momentum Saint Mary's way. 

In the 32nd minute, the Gaels broke through for the game's lone goal. Emmie Ennis weaved through the Bulldog defenders and created a throw in for the Gaels. Glock received the throw in from Emma Barthel where she passed it to her teammate Makena Carr in the midfield. Carr made a long pass right into the box which was headed into the lower right corner of the net past the diving keeper by Emily Jensen, for her third goal of the season and a 1-0 SMC lead. 

Starting the second half the Bulldogs began to attack and control possession in SMC territory. The Gaels remained united as they worked together to keep Gonzaga from scoring. The Bulldogs took a total of 15 shots to just two for the Gaels in the second half. 

Two of those Zags shots came only two minutes into the second half. Alexander attempted her second shot of the game in the 45th minute and Maddie Kemp in the 47th, where they both shot to the bottom center of the goal with Poland able to make the saves. 

In between the 61st and 67th minute, the Bulldogs attempted five more shots, with Poland having to save three of the five shots. Saint Mary's was able to slow down the Zags and get some offensive possession of their own, as Emmie Ennis was able to get a shot off that was saved by Gonzaga goalkeeper Towne, and in the 71st minute Glock attempted for a third time, where it was too high toward the right side of the goal. 

Between the 76th and 86th minute, the Bulldogs put pressure on the Gaels defense and shot six times. But Poland and the Gaels defense were again up to the task, as Poland made two more saves and the SMC defense blocked three shots.

Poland made a season-high 10 saves for her third clean sheet of the season and 20th in her career at Saint Mary's. It was the first win for the Gaels against Gonzaga since a 1-0 win over the Bulldogs on October 1, 2017 in Saint Mary's Stadium. 

UP NEXT:

The Gaels will head south to take on the Toreros in San Diego on Wednesday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m.

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