Final Stats

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Kelsi Dantu and Tara Meier connected for two corner kick goals to lead San Diego to a 2-0 victory at Gonzaga on Saturday night.

Meier provided both assists -- one in the 3rd minute and another in the 70th minute -- to Dantu who headed in both crosses to help the Toreros (8-9, 6-1 WCC) secure its seventh victory in the past eight matches. Dantu is second on the team with six goals, while Meier leads the team with five assists.

Dantu nearly scored a third header on a corner kick in the 60th minute but her shot from two yards out ringed off the crossbar.

While Dantu and Meier provided the offensive fireworks, it was the Toreros defense that stole the show a majority of the night. Kelley Carusa, Courtney Coate, Abby King, Tara Meier and Natalie Copenhaver had excellent games defensively and notched USD's second consecutive shutout.

Amber Michel continued to bolster her case as the WCC's best goalkeeper, making 10 stops on 23 shots by the Bulldogs (10-7-1, 2-6 WCC). A good portion of her most impressive plays did not show up in the box score, however, as she was active off her line punching dangerous crosses away from the front of the goal and diving to snare low crosses away from Gonzaga strikers.

One of Michel's most important saves came 10 seconds before halftime on a hard shot to her left post from just inside the penalty box. She reacted quickly and got her hand to the shot to deflect it wide. The save preserved a 1-0 lead and the momentum going into halftime.

Michel's 10 saves were one shy of her career high of 11, set during a 2-1 win at BYU on Sept. 29.

Amber Michel made 10 saves - one shy of her career high. (Photo via Gonzaga Athletics)

Summer Mason played well up top and caused issues for the Bulldogs defense throughout the night. She nearly scored her 10th goal of the year when she hammered a shot off the crossbar in the 22nd minute.

There were some tense moments throughout the match when the Bulldogs produced sustained pressure in their offensive zone. The most dangerous spell occurred between the 60th and 68th minutes when Gonzaga produced five corner kicks and four shots.

USD's defense weathered the barrage of opportunities and was rewarded when Dantu converted on her second goal of the game in the 70th minute.

The defense did the rest and continued to keep Gonzaga off the board the remainder of the game to secure the victory.

The Toreros will look to maintain its momentum as it wraps up the regular season next weekend with matches at Santa Clara and San Francisco.