PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland and Gonzaga played to a 2-2 draw Saturday night at Merlo Field in a West Coast Conference men’s soccer match. The Pilots are now 4-7-2 overall for the season, 2-4-1 in the WCC. Gonzaga moves to 3-6-4 and 1-3-2 in the conference.
Portland dominated the pace of play in the first half, but it was Gonzaga who capitalized first. Junior forward Luke Miller scored in impressive fashion at 23:09 to give the Zags a 1-0 lead. Sophomore forward George Josten made a run down the right side sending a cross into the center of the box. Freshman midfielder Bryan Mullane one touched it towards the far post where Miller back-heeled it into the net while his back was facing the goal from five yards out. The ball snuck just inside the left post.
Four of UP’s eight first half shots were on goal with the best opportunity coming from senior midfielder Miguel Guante. Guante rifled a bullet from the top of the box that sailed just high of the cross bar in the 42nd minute.
Portland continued to control the run of play in the second half and had the first good look of the period when senior forward Patrick Mooney won a ball on the right end line in the 50th minute. Mooney went one-on-one with Gonzaga keeper Vito Higgins, but his shot from a tough angle hit the right side of the net.
The Pilots got the equalizer moments later as Mooney finished on a pass from senior midfielder Sean Babcock. Babcock’s pass made it through a couple of defenders and found Mooney wide open in the center of the box. Mooney fired the ball inside the right post from the top of the goal box for his first goal this season. It’s Babcock’s third assist this fall.
The Bulldogs responded in the 60th minute when senior midfielder Mark Stock was unmarked with possession at the top of the penalty box. He ripped a shot towards the right post where Pilot junior goalie John Fastabend, making his second career start for UP, got a hand on it but the ball found the right side of the net giving the Zags a 2-1 lead.
The Pilots had a golden opportunity in the 82nd minute when they were awarded a penalty kick after Gonzaga sophomore Austin Washington was issued a red card for taking down Guante in the box. Babcock took the penalty kick but his attempt grazed the crossbar and went out of bounds. The Pilots had a man-advantage for the rest of the game and Washington must sit out the Bulldog’s next game.
Portland continued to apply heavy pressure and almost tied the game when sophomore midfielder Jeff Griffin ripped a shot towards an open right side of the net from outside the left corner of the penalty box. Bulldog freshman midfielder Conor Baranski was able to stop the shot just before it crossed the line and cleared it.
The Pilots finally found the net on sophomore midfielder Matthew Dallman’s first goal of the season in the 89th minute. Sophomore defender Michael Gavin had possession just outside the left side of the penalty box. His cross into the box was mishandled by Higgins and Dallman was there to put it into the right side of the net from ten yards out tying the game at 2-2.
UP had a couple of chances to win it in the final seconds of regulation but Babcock had a shot that was saved and freshman forward Brayton Knapp sent the follow high. The Pilots ended regulation with a 19-4 advantage in shots.
In the overtime period, the Pilots continued their dominance of possession but were unable to capitalize as the game went to a second overtime period. Babcock got the best look of the extra periods when he fired a shot from 25 yards out. The ball hit the bottom of the crossbar and somehow stayed out of the goal.
For the game, Portland outshot the Zags 25-7 and 12-4 in shots on goal. Higgins finished the night with nine saves while Fastabend made two.
The Pilots continue conference play with a two-game trip to Southern California next weekend. Portland plays San Diego in San Diego, Calif., on Friday, October 28. UP then takes on Loyola Marymount on Sunday in Los Angeles.
GONZAGA BULLDOGS (3-6-4, 1-3-2 WCC) vs. Portland (4-7-2, 2-4-1 WCC)
Date: Oct 22, 2005 Attendance: 666
Weather: Clear, mild
Goals by period 1 2 OT O2 Tot
-------------------------------------
GONZAGA BULLDOGS.... 1 1 0 0 - 2
Portland............ 0 2 0 0 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 23:09 GON MILLER, Luke (2) (JOSTEN, George;MULLANEY, Bryan) - Back-heeled in from 5 yards
2. 54:24 POR MOONEY, Patrick (1) (BABCOCK, Sean) - cross from left, 8yds right side
3. 59:40 GON STOCK, Mark (2) (unassisted) - top of box to low right
4. 88:46 POR DALLMAN, Matthew (1) (GAVIN, Michael) - GK mishandle, 10yd finish rt side
Shots: GONZAGA BULLDOGS 7, Portland 25
Saves: GONZAGA BULLDOGS 10 (HIGGINS, Vito 9; TEAM 1), Portland 2
(FASTABEND, John 2)
