> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Gonzaga Women's Soccer Can't Punch Back in Contentious Match, Falls 2-1 to Arizona - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/gonzaga-bulldogs-womens-soccer-cant-punch-back-contentious-match-falls-arizona-wildcats/ - Published: 2026-08-21T05:52:19.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:52:22.000Z - Author: Corbin Smith - Tags: Game Day, Analysis, Gonzaga Soccer, Samantha Snorsky, Katie Benz, Amelia Severn, Sophia Schlicklin, Sydney Head, Makayla Werner, Avery O'Donnell, Kelli Chapple \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="866"\] ![ Gonzaga Bulldogs midfielder Samantha Snorsky (13) dribbles the ball against the Arizona Wildcats at Luger Field. Credit: Gonzaga Athletics ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/screenshot-2026-08-20-at-11-21-23-e2-80-afpm-format-original.png) Gonzaga Bulldogs midfielder Samantha Snorsky (13) dribbles the ball against the Arizona Wildcats at Luger Field. Credit: Gonzaga Athletics \[/caption\] After Oregon handed them their first loss in a 3-0 result Sunday, Gonzaga women’s soccer (1-2) couldn’t rebound upon returning home to Luger Field. Although they struck first against Arizona (2-1) on Thursday evening, the Zags made several lapses they couldn’t recover from, even with ample opportunity. The first half transpired fairly briskly, as the flow between the two sides was initially smooth. But after halftime, there were more interruptions, leading to increased physicality and tension. And unfortunately for GU, it didn’t have much to show for it during the final 45 minutes, resulting in a frustrating 2-1 loss for the Bulldogs. Despite the lopsided final score against the Ducks, Gonzaga kept pace with their opponent in terms of shot attempts and possession. The difference was the Zags’ inability to finish plays, which ailed them again versus Arizona. Each team had their chances in the opening 15 minutes, yet couldn’t break through the opposing backline. A pleasant surprise for GU, however, was the presence of forward Sophia Schlicklin. The junior transfer from SIU has been quiet to start the season, and although she still only logged one shot against the Wildcats, she was much more active on scoring opportunities. In the sixth minute, Schlicklin cut through the box and received a pass from Avery O’Donnell, who dribbled down the right sideline. If the timing were slightly better between the two, Schlicklin might’ve scored, but the ball bounced away from the net, not toward it. Still, she and Samantha Snorsky were the Bulldogs’ main offensive catalysts, considering Arizona attempted to take Amelia Severn completely out of the game. Following Severn’s four-goal performance in the season opener and her being named the Intercollegiate Women’s Soccer Player of the Week, the Wildcats committed multiple bodies to the junior midfielder, hoping to stall Gonzaga’s offense. Because of this, Severn was rarely involved when the Zags pushed the ball into Arizona territory. Similar to its 5-1 win over South Florida, GU capitalized on an opponent’s miscue to score. And just like the lone goal the Bulldogs allowed in that game, it came from an errant pass in negative territory. After Schlicklin couldn’t catch up to a through ball that rolled out of play at 29’, Wildcats defender Aranda Hurge miscommunicated with Lily Boydstun, resulting in a Hurge pass straight to Samantha Snorsky at the edge of the box. Now in possession, Snorsky held her leverage against Boydstun while drawing closer to the net, then fired a left-footed shot past a closing Trinity Dorsey and the diving goalkeeper Sofia-Cortes Browne to draw first blood. Snorsky, who is the only other Zag outside of Severn to score this year, was on the board for her second goal of the season. > GOAL ZAGS! 29' Snorsky takes advantage of a turnover and opens the scoring. GU leads 1-0\. [pic.twitter.com/u3U4Kua6yc](https://t.co/u3U4Kua6yc?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Gonzaga Women’s Soccer (@zagwsoccer) [August 20, 2026](https://x.com/zagwsoccer/status/2090585883582079287?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) Defensively, Gonzaga limited the Wildcats to four shots, largely due to the work of defender Makayla Werner. The senior used all parts of her 5-7 frame to block attempts, make slide tackles, and clear the ball, as Werner was a big reason her keeper, Sydney Head, only had to make one save in the first half. Many of the other players on the pitch matched Werner’s energy after halftime, and it had a trickle-down effect on Head’s clean sheet. The increased contact led to regular stoppages, and heightened frustration with officials ensued from both benches. And that rising tension at field level peaked during a wild five-minute sequence in the middle of the second half. During the 67th minute, an Arizona throw-in on the left sideline set up a one-on-one with Wildcats sophomore Mireya Stephenson and Zags freshman Kelli Chapple. Stephenson won position inside the box with a body check on Chapple, then kicked a shot through Head and before Werner could rotate. But before her foot made contact with the ball, the side judge’s flag went up for offside as Stevenson cheated behind the backline before the pass got there. The call was reviewed during the hydration break and stood, so GU kept its 1-0 advantage for the time being. And that didn’t last long, as a minute later, Stevenson and the Wildcats suddenly threatened again. In a rapidly developing fast break, Whitney Reinhardt booted a long pass from beyond midfield to Stevenson up the right sideline. Even with Chapple draped over her, Stevenson maintained her dribble and won the footrace to stay ahead of the first-year defender. And with the window closing, she fired a strong shot just past Head to officially knot the score at one. Unlike Stevenson’s retracted goal, the side judge threw up their flag after the play as it appeared the Arizona forward might’ve gotten ahead prematurely again. This time, the call on the field was overturned, and there was a cascading effect on Gonzaga’s sideline. Third-year head coach Katie Benz was confused and beside herself about how the replay situation unfolded. Even after a lengthy conversation with head referee Elorm Atisu, Benz was still flabbergasted when he ran to assume his position on the pitch. Controversy continued in the 72nd minute when Werner fell to the ground several times on the right sideline and was called for a foul despite appearing to be pushed. A free kick was awarded to Arizona, and it made the most of the generous call. On the set piece, Boydstun lofted a beautiful offering over two players vying for headers, and it landed at Stevenson’s feet. She was lost in the shuffle, uncovered by the Zags, and took a shot with her heel. Head was in position, but the ball had some funky English on it, and it squirted through her grasp and into the net. After the score, Atisu spoke again with Benz and Wildcats head coach Becca Moros about the belittling voices from the benches. That didn’t go over well with Benz, who expressed her discontent more, causing Atisu to assess her a yellow card. Still, the Bulldogs had about 15 minutes to answer Arizona after their opponent stole most of the match’s momentum. And they definitely had their opportunities. At 77’, Severn and Reinhardt battled in Wildcats territory before Severn bent the corner on her in the box. To regain position, Reinhardt tugged Severn’s arm slightly, and the Zags midfielder went tumbling. A foul was called, Reinhardt argued and was handed a yellow card, and Severn prepared to take her second penalty kick of the young season. As last week, Severn faked one direction on the penalty kick before shooting in the other, but Arizona’s new keeper Laurynn Ziller was ready and blocked the shot with her right knee. The ricochet trickled right to O’Donnell, who came screaming from the edge of the formation with an open lane, yet she chipped her try over the net and out of play. There was another review to ensure Ziller didn’t come off the goal line, but she didn’t, and the call was confirmed. > 2H 76'| Ziller saves the penalty kick keeping the Cats in the lead! > > Arizona 2, Gonzaga 1 [#BearDown](https://x.com/hashtag/BearDown?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) [pic.twitter.com/5rXaBl8dyp](https://t.co/5rXaBl8dyp?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Arizona Soccer (@ArizonaSoccer) [August 21, 2026](https://x.com/ArizonaSoccer/status/2090606754082230423?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) From that point on, GU generated three shots and two corner kicks but still couldn’t find the back of the net. They suffered their second straight loss, with the main culprit once more being missed opportunities. The tough schedule doesn’t let up for the Zags, as they’ll head out on a two-game road trip against New Mexico (1-0) and Washington (2-0) over the next week.