Soccer Drops Road Test at No. 24 Gonzaga

Thursday, August 31

Spokane, WA

9 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

3-2-0, 0-0-0

Gonzaga

4-1-0, 0-0-0

Oklahoma

Gonzaga

Photo by: Morgan Givens/University of Oklahoma

Soccer Drops Road Test at No. 24 Gonzaga

August 31, 2023 | Soccer

Box Score Game Book

By: OU Athletics Communications

SPOKANE, Wash. – Oklahoma dropped game one of its road trip on Thursday night, falling 3-0 to No. 24 Gonzaga in Spokane.

The Sooners (3-2-0) posted a dozen shots in the rainy conditions, nearly finding the back of the net multiple times in the second half, but the Bulldogs tallied two goals in the first half and another in the second 45 minutes to put the game out of reach.

Oklahoma looked to jump out to an early lead and was close to scoring the contest's first goal as Leonie Weber put a shot on frame in the first minute that required GU keeper Lauren Towne to make a save. But the Bulldogs, who rose into the United Soccer Coaches top 25 this week, struck first off a counterattack in the seventh minute with Kate Doyle beating OU goalkeeper Olivia Ramey to make it 1-0.

Gonzaga added a second tally in the 28th minute when Giana Riley snuck through the OU backline to give the 'Zags a 2-0 advantage.

With the Sooners pressing out of the break, the Crimson and Cream almost scored off an Emma Hawkins' left-footed shot in the 56th minute that required an effort from Towne to keep it out of the net. Alexis Washington nearly posted OU's first goal of the night a few minutes later, but her shot was blocked by the Bulldogs' backline. Oklahoma's best chance of the contest came in the 73rd minute when Dani Wolfe lost her mark, but Towne was able to make a diving save to preserve the Gonzaga clean sheet.

Wolfe led the charge with three shots, including two on net, while Hawkins and Weber matched her with a pair of shots on goal each. Olivia Ramey tallied four saves in the first half, while Sierra Giorgio took the net in the second half, corralling a trio of saves. Esalenna Galekhutle, a 2022 United Soccer Coaches Junior College All-American from Gaborone, Botswana, made her collegiate debut in the effort.

Oklahoma will look to rebound on Sunday when it takes on Montana (4-0-1) at 1 p.m. CT in Spokane. The neutral-site contest will not be streamed, but live stats will be available.

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