Christine Sinclair scores twice giving her 14 consecutive games with a goal, one shy of the 15-year-old NCAA record

PORTLAND, Ore. - Christine Sinclair scored two goals as Portland opened its West Coast Conference schedule with a 2-0 win over upstart Gonzaga Sunday afternoon at Merlo Field. The Pilots (13-0, 1-0 WCC) extended their best start in school history and snapped Gonzaga’s program-best, seven-game winning streak. The Bulldogs drop to 9-3-1 overall, 0-1 in WCC action with the loss.

With top-ranked North Carolina losing to Duke earlier in the day, the Pilots and Penn State (13-0-0) are the only remaining teams in the country without a loss or tie.

Sinclair has now moved into seventh place in NCAA Division I history with 95 career goals, while her 218 total points are ninth in the NCAA books. She needed just 10 minutes on Sunday before depositing a goal for the 14th straight game, pulling her within one of the NCAA record for consecutive games with a goal held by Brandi Chastain (Santa Clara, 1990).

At 9:56, Sinclair was on the finishing end of a corner kick sent by fellow senior All-America Lindsey Huie. Unmarked at the far post, she nodded in her 23rd goal of 2005 to the low right. It was Huie’s 43rd career assist pulling her within two of Shannon MacMillan for second on the Portland career list.

Sinclair capped the scoring in the 63rd minute by converting a penalty kick for her 24th goal of the season. The opportunity was created when freshman midfielder Megan Rapinoe beat the Gonzaga defense into the left side of the box. When she attempted to cut back to the middle, Rapinoe was tripped up by GU defender Lori Conrad and the referee pointed to the spot. Sinclair calmly placed the attempt to the lower left past GU keeper Ashley Haugen, improving to 3-for-3 on the season in penalty kicks.

The Bulldogs played tough throughout, limiting Portland to a season-low 12 shot attempts, although eight were put on frame. GU managed six shots, as Pilot goalie Cori Alexander made one save in recording her seventh shutout of the season. Alexander is now tied for second place on the UP career charts with Erin Fahey (1991-93, 95) at 28 clean sheets.

Trailing 1-0 in the first half, Gonzaga had a quality chance to equalize as freshman midfielder Christine Soma broke free down the right sideline and penetrated into the Portland penalty area in the 19th minute. Soma crossed to forward Cristin Leverson unmarked at the left post but her attempt sailed high.

GU also threatened out of the gates in the second half on consecutive corner kicks to no avail. Stacey Sarro had a shot attempt blocked in a large scrum in front of the goal off the first corner in the 51st minute. On the second attempt, Alexander knocked down the cross and then pounced on the loose ball in front of the goal before a Bulldog could get a shot off.

With the win, Portland improves its all-time WCC record to 73-12-3 (.847). The Pilots have won or shared seven of the 13 WCC regular season titles since the league began sponsoring women’s soccer in 1992.

Portland continues WCC play with a pair of road games next weekend. The Pilots will face Loyola Marymount on Friday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. and then take on Pepperdine on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m.

 Gonzaga (9-3-1, 0-1 WCC) vs. Portland (13-0-0, 1-0 WCC)
 Date: Oct 09, 2005  Attendance: 3070
 Weather: Mostly cloudy

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------
 Gonzaga.............  0  0 -  0
 Portland............  1  1 -  2
 
 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.   9:56 POR SINCLAIR, Christine (23) (HUIE, Lindsey) - 6 yd header off cross
  2.  62:36 POR SINCLAIR, Christine Penalty kick

 Shots: Gonzaga 6, Portland 13
 Saves: Gonzaga 6 (HAUGEN, Ashley 6), Portland 1 (ALEXANDER, Cori 1)