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# Gonzaga Women's Soccer Falls 3-0 to Boise State in Pac-12 Opener
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/gonzaga-womens-soccer-falls-boise-state-pac-12-opener/
- Published: 2026-10-06T05:24:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T15:43:22.000Z
- Author: Howard Woodard
- Tags: Game Day, Analysis, Gonzaga Soccer, Amelia Severn, Sydney Head, Makayla Werner, Avery O'Donnell, Anna Rydin

In its first-ever Pac-12 game, Gonzaga women’s soccer (5-5-2, 0-1-0) battled Boise State (10-1-1, 2-0-0), a consensus top-two team in the conference. The game was a grudge match for the first half and a change, before the Broncos made several crucial open-field plays. Meanwhile, the Zags struggled to manufacture scoring chances in their first game in eight days and fell 3-0 on the road.

The final result doesn’t reflect how close the two teams played, as BSU’s last two goals came in the final five minutes. But they do represent the performance difference in high-leverage moments, which is why Boise State now has a program-record eight straight victories while GU has been fairly inconsistent so far this season.

After this win, the Broncos extended their incredible stretch, now notching a sixth shutout in seven games and 14 consecutive home victories. So the Zags shouldn’t be too beat on their play, even though it was a tough way to introduce themselves to a new league.

BSU had created a shot on goal in the opening five minutes of each of its last two games. They nearly did it again in this one, when Madie Donovan crossed the ball into the box from the right side at 4’. It was dead on to Sophie Schmautz, who came flying in from midfield, but she headed it wide.

Boise State outshot Gonzaga 14-5, tallying seven shots in each half, yet the Bulldogs had several opportunities to get on the board during the first 45 minutes. The Broncos were extremely physical, committing 10 fouls and getting called for two yellow cards in the first period. GU was awarded four free kicks from these plays but didn’t come close to converting any of their set pieces. In the 32nd minute, Broncos goalkeeper Ava De Leest made a fearless, athletic denial on a free kick off the foot of Amelia Severn. She was incredible in the net for BSU, logging three saves and earning her seventh clean sheet of the year.

Amid Boise State’s first-half barrage, Zags keeper Head made four saves. But the Bulldogs’ backline was more impressive throughout, especially Makayla Werner and Avery O’Donnell. The defenders consistently deterred shots, blocked attempts with their bodies, and made clutch clearances to keep the Broncos from setting up shop in the attacking third.

Still, Gonzaga’s inability to capitalize on BSU’s overaggressiveness proved costly, as the Broncos eventually broke through.

Eight minutes after halftime, Delilah Woods served a cross from the left sideline. Mia Lane slightly mistimed her header in front of the frame, and it landed on top of the net. That close call preceded Boise State's first goal, which came fairly quickly afterward.

After an initial unfruitful BSU corner kick at 56’, they reset their offense. From the left side, Asia Lawyer got the ball back to Donovan, who was wide open, floating in the center of the pitch. As the Zags’ defense converged on her, Donovan strode toward the box and rocketed a low shot past a diving Head for her first goal of the season.

And GU never had much of an answer. They mustered just two shots and a corner kick in the second half. Only three different players (Severn, Samantha Snorsky, and Kalia Franklin) registered shots. The closest Gonzaga got to knotting things up at one was in the 74th minute, when Severn was fouled a few feet from the box, which was a bad break in itself. On the short free kick, Severn booted a hard grounder past the sliding try of Anna Rydin and right into De Leest’s grasp.

During desperation time for the Zags, Lane got the ball with space after Boise State cleared it. She drove a shot with perfect arc just under the crossbar and over the outstretched arm of Head to double the Broncos’ lead. Then, in the final 30 seconds, Lane barely beat Rydin to a loose ball and kicked the ball around the Bulldogs defender while falling to the grass. With the perfect angle and velocity, Lane somehow got it by Head on a circus shot and her second brace in as many games.

The conference tournament structure pits the four teams with the best records against each other in a bracket in November. With a little over a month to go, the Zags need to distribute the ball better to maximize their scoring chances. They did a better job of that in the back half of the nonconference schedule, and Boise State has an argument for being the best team in the Pac-12, but the Bulldogs need to amend their playstyle quickly, because the top two records in the league might already be decided.

GU will stay on the road for its second conference game. They will visit Colorado State (2-8-2, 1-1-0), who tied with Gonzaga for sixth in the Pac-12 preseason poll, on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 3 PM PT.