Box Score Aug. 21, 2015 Box Score
RENO, Nev. - With just enough daylight to get the game in, the Nevada soccer team opened the 2015 regular season with a 1-1 double overtime draw against Gonzaga Friday evening at Moana Field.
Due to poor air quality in the surrounding area, the contest was delayed 30 minutes from its original start time of 5 p.m. With the late start, the extra time and no lights at the field, the teams finished just as the daylight had run out.
Both goals came in the first half of play with a little bit of luck on the Bulldogs (0-0-1) side. Just over 18 minutes into the game, Gonzaga got on the board thanks to an own goal that ricocheted off of a Wolf Pack (0-0-1) player and trickled into the back of the net.
The Bulldogs remained ahead by the single tally until the final minute of the opening half. Coming off of a far side throw in from junior Brianna Bosson, freshman Hannah Miller sprinted towards the net and headed in her first collegiate goal to knot the score up at 1-1 as time nearly expired in the period.
Shots fell even at five apiece in the first half, but Gonzaga turned up the offensive pressure in period two, outshooting the Pack by a 7-1 margin. Nevada starting goalkeeper Kelsey Quintos, however, kept the opposition off the board by making five saves.
Perhaps the best chance for either team to score in the overtime periods came from the Bulldogs in the final minute of the first overtime. Karley Baggerly booted a shot from about 15 yards out that rang off the side of the near side post. The rebound was taken by Sydney Anderson but her shot sailed high above the crossbar and out of danger.
Altogether, Gonzaga outshot the Wolf Pack 16-6 in the match and held an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks. Quintos stopped a total of seven shots in her season debut, while the Bulldogs keeper Christie Tombari stopped two.
Nevada returns to the pitch next Friday, Aug. 28 to open the Mackay Stadium portion of its home schedule at 6:30 p.m. against Montana.
