1. Zags Fall Short in Heartbreaker vs. Memphis Tigers
In their final non-conference matchup of the season, Gonzaga was faced with an all too
similar foe: overtime. The Zags hung tough for several minutes before giving up a goal in the
102nd minute in route to a 1-0 defeat vs. the Memphis Tigers.
This was the sixth overtime game for the Zags and their fifth contest that has gone into
double overtime. The loss puts them at 0-1-4 in games that have gone past regulation and 0-2-1
on the road. Out of their five overtime games, it was the first time that they have seen themselves
come out on the losing side.
While this was a step in the opposite direction for the Zags, there are several positives
that can be taken from the game.
“This was the farthest we have traveled all year, but this is not the first time that the team
has been to this part of the country,” Assistant Coach Susan Brown said. “The trip reinforced the
fact that the girls have formed a close bond with one another and have no problem
communicating on the field.”
The communication and tight community feel of the Zags locker room was something
that Brown felt helped the girls match the physicality and toughness brought from the Tigers.
This matchup was an entirely new experience for Gonzaga women’s soccer and gave
them a competitive edge as a unit.
“It was a lot of traveling. Getting up at 5:30, sleeping on a hotel floor, and not being used
to the time zone really took a toll on our bodies. But this trip really helped us prepare for games
and feel mentally tough,” junior forward Karley Baggerly said.
One factor that ended up being crucial for the Zags on Saturday was the play of goalie
and redshirt junior Christie Tombari.
“She somehow always makes big plays for us. She always knows where the ball is and
will do anything to keep the ball out of the net,” Baggerly said. “At one point I literally saw
Christie doing the splits in front of the goal. She puts it all out there for the team.”
The Tigers hit a total of fourteen shots on the day, eight of them on goal. When things
were looking ugly for the Zags, time and time again Tombari would come up clutch to keep the
game within striking distance.
Even though this was not their best game, the defense was fairly positive about their
overall performance.
“We came out strong and didn’t give up any easy goals. The biggest key for us was our
ability to communicate and stay organized in the back line,” freshmen defender Ariana Pumpelly
said. “The defense has definitely improved a lot based on previous outcomes.”
For the Zags, they need to be sure that they are staying true to their identity and not
letting their opponent keep them from playing their own style.
“We play our best soccer when we are controlling the tempo. If our opponents launch
forward, we need to deny that, slow the game down, and keep them from being the dictators,”
Pumpelly said.
Another key for the Zags is keeping pressure on the opposing side and creating more
opportunities for them to capitalize throughout the game.
“We need to be connecting with each other, be ball seekers, confident with defenders
draped on our backs, and have the ability to make the right plays when opportunities are given,”
Baggerly said.

2. The Zags will be back in action this Thursday when they host the #6 BYU Cougars in
their first conference game of the year. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. at Luger Field.