SPOKANE, Wash. ---  The Portland Pilots women's soccer team was unable to top the Gonzaga Bulldogs in their conference finale at Luger Field on Saturday evening, with the Zags putting one on the board to send their seniors off on a high note with a 1-0 win. With the victory, Gonzaga clinches the fourth spot in West Coast Conference, while Portland finishes fifth.
The Bulldogs (10-4-4, 5-2-2 WCC) produced most of the offensive chances in the first half and were solid on defense, limiting the Pilots (11-9-0, 4-5 WCC) to two shots. Both attempts on goal for Portland came within the first 10 minutes of the game.

In the sixth minute, senior Hanna Armendariz was the first to get on the stat board for Portland, releasing a shot from the top of the 18, but the attempt was cleared off the goal line by Gonzaga. Moments later in the seventh minute junior Kimberly Hazlett was also able to hit a shot from the top of the box, but the attack was again blocked by the Zags. The Bulldogs would then control most of the rest of the half, recording seven shots within the rest of the period. 

Junior Brianna Miyama started the second half off with a bang, getting a shot on-target in the 50^th minute from the far right wing, but Gonzaga's goalkeeper was able to get a hold on the shot for the save. The Bulldogs answered the attack minutes later to record the only goal of the game in the 54^th minute. Jodi Ulkekul was able to get a cross off on the left side of the Portland box, to which India Jencks controlled and turned and get a shot on-goal. Though senior Rachel Lusby got a hand on the shot, the rebound deflected of a Portland player and into the goal.

From there junior Natalie Muth answered the goal with an attempt with a header, but the shot missed just wide in the 55^thminute. Gonzaga then gained momentum to control the attack until the 76^th minute, when sophomore Ellie Winkelmann struck one from the top of the area, but the Zags again defended it well. The Pilots would get several more attacks on goal to try and level the score near the end of regulation, but the Bulldogs held on for the 1-0 win. 

Michelle French closes out her first season as head coach with a .550 win percentage and more than doubled Portland's total wins from last season. The Pilots also improved their offensive production, recording 30 overall goals and limiting opponents from a defensive standpoint to 21 goals on the year. Sophomore Taryn Ries and junior Larkin Russell broke into the national statistics as well, with Ries ranking in the top-10 in goals and game winners, and Russell ranking in assists. Senior goalkeeper Rachel Lusby finishes off her collegiate career first all-time in program history in saves per games and leading conference for the majority of the season in shut outs with eight this season.