Return of the Pac-12

Gonzaga and UW battle to a draw in women's soccer match
Photo courtesy Gonzaga University

Washington Huskies and Gonzaga Bulldogs have had a tepid rivalry, mostly confined to college basketball, unlike the feud with the Washington State Cougars. 

A women’s college soccer match might have passed by without much fanfare, except for the upheaval in college athletics due to conference realignment. A brief exposition for context – the University of Washington was part of the old Pac-12 conference; Gonzaga University was a member of the WCC conference. 

In our Brave New World, UW is now in the Big Ten, and GU is now in the new Pac-12. With this in mind, last Thursday’s soccer match between GU & UW is more than an in-state, trans-Cascadian, local rivalry game, it heralds the beginning of the new Big-Pac interplay, with new faces involved.

In addition to local bragging rights, with 22 in-state players participating, many of whom are friends, classmates, even relatives, who may have played with or against each other in the many years of rec, high-school or select soccer games. The majority of these girls will turn pro in something other than soccer, but for now, most play for the love of the game. 

Shorewood grad Amelia Severn at her signing ceremony
Photo by Kristi Lin

The 11th ranked Huskies came out in an attacking 3-3-4 formation, with a quad front four. The unfancied Bulldogs lined up in a midfield-heavy 3-4-3 setup, with an attacking trident featuring two local kids, Samantha Snorsky (Kenmore) and Amelia Severn (Shoreline). Both teams poked and prodded cautiously, with defenses holding the upper hand. 

The bigger and stronger Huskies applied pressure, but the Bulldogs were resolute and counterattacked with intent. Both sides appeared content to enter halftime with a scoreless draw. 

But, with minutes left in the half, quite against the run of play, Gonzaga attacks down the right, crosses in, Washington muffs a clearance, and Snorsky latches onto it to snap it into the top right corner, Zags 1-0. 

After the half, Huskies responded vigorously, putting the Bulldogs goal under siege. At the midway point of the second half, the ball pings around in the Zags box, they cannot clear, and Ava Morton (Sumner) stabs the ball home high above the keeper, 1-1. UW puts GU under duress, outshooting the Zags 15-5, but GU tenaciously hangs on to earn a draw. 

Bulldogs could be miffed to not steal a win after going ahead, but can be satisfied with holding a ranked team to a tie. Huskies could be disgruntled not to extract a win, but can be pleased with a comeback to avoid a loss. 

No thrill and no agony, but I encourage everyone to come out to watch the purity of sports and the exuberance of youth (while you still can).

--TCA