> ## 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 Opens Season with 1-1 Draw; Can’t Capitalize Against Undermanned Utah Tech
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/gonzaga-opens-season-with-1-1-draw-cant-capitalize-against-undermanned-utah-tech/
- Published: 2025-08-22T18:20:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T05:58:36.000Z
- Author: Corbin Smith
- Tags: News, Analysis, Gonzaga, Bulldogs, Zags, Chris McGaughey, Alex Bazia, Ian Silva, Nicolas Golesis, Geremi Onentia, Chema Preciado, Samir Guevas, Stockton Short

\[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="946"\]

![  Gonzaga Bulldogs midfielder Alex Bazia fires a shot attempt against Seattle on September 12, 2024. Credit: Alex Bazia/Instagram.  ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/screenshot-2025-08-22-at-1-31-21-e2-80-afam-format-original-1.png)

Gonzaga Bulldogs midfielder Alex Bazia fires a shot attempt against Seattle on September 12, 2024\. Credit: Alex Bazia/Instagram. \[/caption\]

When Utah Tech’s Jerod Allen received a red card in the 28th minute for dragging Gonzaga’s Robbie Mora to the turf with a clear path to the net, it seemed that the Bulldogs would be set up for their first win in nearly a full calendar year on Thursday, Aug. 21\. 

They would play the next hour or so with a one-man advantage, looking to snap an eight-game losing streak that dated back to Sept. 12 of the previous season. The Zags even scored the match’s first goal, but the Trailblazers quickly knotted things back up, and it remained even at 1-1 until the final buzzer sounded.

Although the Zags couldn’t take advantage of playing 11 versus 10 for two-thirds of the game, they carried energy throughout. Whether it was just the excitement of the first game of the season or a new message from interim head coach Chris McGaughey, there was noticeable energy and effort from Gonzaga that led to numerous scoring opportunities in the game. This was the case even with the temperature nearing triple digits at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George, UT. 

For a team that was picked to finish last in the WCC in the conference’s Preseason Poll, the Bulldogs didn’t play like it in the first game of the season, and it will be an interesting trend to see what kind of competitive edge they will play with as the year continues.

Overall, the Zags were aggressive — constantly living in Utah Tech territory even prior to Allen’s ejection. They finished with 22 total shots, with six of them being on goal, nearly matching the Trailblazers’ entire shot diet of seven. The match got off to a rocky start when Bulldogs midfielder Paul Jones went down less than three minutes into the game. A Trailblazer going for a header went over the top of Jones, and the Wolford transfer appeared to suffer a leg injury. He didn’t return to action in his first game with Gonzaga, as that collision set the tone for the game’s physicality.

There were 22 fouls committed in the game and three yellow cards handed out. The Zags were particularly physical on defense, hounding Utah Tech to close off passing lanes and deny shot attempts. The Trailblazers were also without their leading scorer from last season, Samir Guevas, who found the back of the net four times and was a Preseason All-WAC selection after being named to the second team in 2024\. It led to them playing more reserved and reacting to what the Bulldogs threw at them. 

But Utah Tech matched Gonzaga’s playstyle, or at least handled the pressure the Zags applied for almost the totality of 90 minutes. The Trailblazers’ keeper, Stockton Short, showed why he was also named to the Preseason All-WAC team, racking up five saves in the season opener. The Bulldogs will likely kick themselves looking over the tape at the chances they had to put more points on the board, compounded by the fact that Utah Tech was playing a man down. There were a sizable number of headers that sailed over the goal, low shots that were fired just to the right or the left of the net, and passes to no-man’s land in the box.

In the 64th minute, Gonzaga finally broke the ice on a penalty kick. After the game’s third handball that presumably stopped a shot attempt from the Zags’ Alex Bazia, the sophomore chipped the penalty kick into the right corner of the net that snuck just by Short. Bazia had four shots total, tied for the team lead with Ian Silva. Freshman Nicolas Golesis and Geremi Onentia added three shots apiece for the Bulldogs.  
  
But the lead was short-lived as it seemed Utah Tech began to assert itself offensively after Gonzaga scored first. They pushed the ball downfield, prompting a fourth handball — this time committed by Gonzaga. On a free kick from the Trailblazers’ Colby Lee, Tanner Dutra scampered free in the box, heading the ball into the left corner of the goal squarely and past the Zags’ goalkeeper Chema Preciado. Preciado recorded one save during his 90 minutes in the net.

The winding minutes were a microcosm of the game as the Bulldogs seemed desperate to get a shot on goal off while Utah Tech played a game of keep away to run the rest of the clock out. But there were positive signs for the Zags to take away, which they will look to apply and build on for their next match on Sunday, August 24, at 2 p.m. PT against Utah Valley at America First Stadium.