“This is progress – we lost to both these teams [Gonzaga and Oregon State] last year and it was a tough battle on Friday as well,” said head coach Pete Fewing. “One of the things I like is that we got two 1-0 wins, two shutouts. I’d like for us to get another goal, but to win 1-0 is tough, so I’m proud and happy for our guys.”
Less than two minutes after entering the match, Massimino brought a spark to the Seattle U lineup and scored his first goal of the season. The goal, which would prove to be the game-winner came on a pair of assists by Jeff Rose (Carmichael, Calif.) and Agustin Andrade III (Ojai, Calif.).
Ian Hines-Ike (Littleton, Colo.) took the first shot of the game just a minute in, adding three total in the first half alone as the teams remained in a scoreless tie at halftime.
Gonzaga’s Sam Olson would have one of the Bulldogs’ best chances in the 55th minute, but Shane Haworth (Puyallup, Wash.) came up with one of seven big saves.
The Bulldogs outshot the Redhawks, 14-11, while seven different Redhawks contributed to the shot total.
“It was good for Jonathan Massimino to come right in and score,” Fewing continued. “We saw that there was a gap and him, being a leftie, could sneak inside so he did exactly what we asked him to do. Ben Willis, the Gonzaga goalkeeper, got his first start today and he was fantastic. To get past him today was tough, he made some good saves today in traffic, but Jonathan had a terrific goal.”
In goal, Ben Willis made his first career start for Gonzaga, making two saves, while Haworth made seven saves, earning his second shutout on the weekend.
Seattle U men’s soccer hits the road to open their Western Athletic Conference schedule at Utah Valley on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. PT. They will return home for their WAC home opener on Friday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. in a doubleheader with the Seattle U women’s team who host Grand Canyon that evening at 7:30 p.m.
Stay tuned to GoSeattleU.com as well as Facebook (Seattle U Athletics; Seattle U Men’s Soccer), Twitter (@su_athletics; @seattleu_MSO), and Instagram (su_redhawks) for all the latest on the team throughout the season.