Box Score
(Spokane, Wash.) Christina Moberg scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season on Thursday, as the University of San Francisco women's soccer team defeated Gonzaga 1-0 in Spokane. Moberg currently paces the Dons with five goals and two assists for 12 total points.
With the victory, San Francisco improved to 5-9-0 overall, 2-1-0 in West Coast Conference action. The 2-1-0 conference start marks the best start to league play since 2007, when the Dons also went 2-1-0.
"Once again, so proud of our team," said head coach Mark Carr. "Gonzaga is not an easy place to come and get a result from and we did that today. They are a tough opponent and caused us a lot of problems on their set pieces. We prepared really well and the way we defended on their set pieces was extraordinary. A lot of credit goes to the team. This team continues to amaze me. Its willingness to fight, battle and roll up their sleeves gives us the opportunity for what Christina did at the end of the game -- put the ball in the back of the net."
The Zags controlled the offense in the opening half of the match, out shooting the Dons 6-1 with a 3-1 corner kick advantage. For the match, Gonzaga held a 14-5 shot edge and took eight corner kicks to San Francisco's five.
San Francisco took the match late, as Moberg put the Dons up 1-0 at 84:38. The sophomore connected with a pass from Lauren AbuAli, fought past a GU defender and beat the goalkeeper on her left side.
"We always know when Christina gets in front of the goal she is going to score," Carr said. "She did her job and helped our team get the result today."
Moberg's dozen total points this season marks the most since Chelsea Hunt posted 12 in 2006. Prior to '06, Hunt posted 22 total points during the 2005 campaign.
"I must also compliment Celia Pellegrini for the way she played today," Carr added. "She came into the game during difficult circumstances and played her part in the win. She made two world-class saves to keep us in the game at 0-0 and allow us to go on and win the game. We are now focused on going down to Santa Clara to get a result. We know it will not be easy, but we are excited, up for the challenge and will give it a shot."
Pellegrini entered the match at 24:14, taking the place of starter Heather Haney. In 65 minutes of action, Pellegrini tallied a pair of saves to earn the combined shutout.
The Dons will resume action Sunday as they face No. 13 Santa Clara at Buck Shaw Stadium in the South Bay.
