MORAGA, Calif. - A funky fall day in Moraga that included some light showers throughout the match was capped off with a dramatic 90th minute game winner from junior forward
Brooklyn Smith, pushing the Gaels shutout/win streak to six games and securing their first conference victory of the season.
Wednesday's conference opening match featured back-and-forth action as Gonzaga threatened to take the lead with ten of their twelve shots coming in the second half. SMC keeper
Kate Plachy was solid again, making sure-handed saves all match long. Plachy finished with a game high five saves before
Brooklyn Smith netted her third goal of the season with just 27 seconds remaining. Saint Mary's pushes their win streak to six games for the first time since 2011 and six consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1999.
FIRST HALF SMC 0-0 GU
Saint Mary's put together the better chances over the first 45 minutes, outshooting Gonzaga 7-2. Despite the attempts, Gonzaga's keeper was only forced to make one save as several Gael shot attempts failed to hit the target. The game would enter the half scoreless as the rain continued to come down and affect the players footing on the field.
FINAL SMC 1-0 GU
Gonzaga kicked things into another gear in the second half, recording ten shots and forcing five saves from Plachy in net. Not every shot was threatening but Plachy had solid hands and was sure not to give any second chances. Head coach
Theresa Romagnolo had to rely on her bench more than she has all season, using seven substitutions over the course of the match.
Redshirt freshmen
Te'aMahina Uemura played a career high 79 minutes at the center back position while midfielders
Natalie Mejia and
Zoe Maikai saw valuable time as well off the bench.
As the game entered the final minute, Saint Mary's had a throw-in near their own bench and a deflection would put the ball to
Sydney Middaugh's feet with space to dribble into the middle of the field. Middaugh played a cross-field ball to
Brooklyn Smith who found the ball at her feet just outside the left corner of the 18-yard box. Smith took a quality first touch to her left and hammered a shot that found the opposite corner of the net to stun the Zags and give the Gaels the walk-off game winner.
The development of the goal was swift but Smith executed a perfectly struck shot to record her third goal of the season and seal the dramatic 1-0 victory. In fitting fashion,
Kate Plachy comfortably caught a long shot attempt from a Gonzaga defender near midfield for her fifth save of the match as time expired.
The Gaels pushed their win streak to six games for their longest since 2011 and six consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1999. Six straight shutouts is also the longest active streak in the NCAA as the Gaels continue to draw national attention after being ranked 20th in this week's Top Drawer Soccer poll.
Amari Hicks,
Molly Silva,
Sydney Middaugh,
Emmie Ennis,
Maddie Lucas and
Aleiyah Schexnayder played all 90 minutes for Saint Mary's. Ennis led the team with five shot attempts while Middaugh recorded her second assist of the season. Three different players now lead the team with three goals this season (Schwarze, Middaugh, Smith).
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's improved to 6-1-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. They will look to keep their win/shutout streak alive Saturday evening as they head into the city to take on San Francisco. Kickoff is slated for 4:30 PM and you can catch all the action live on ESPN+.
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