SPOKANE, Wash. – Callie Best's header in the 19th minute proved to be the game winner as Gonzaga held off a late Washington State rally for the 1-0 victory in front of 729 fans Sunday event at Luger Field.
 
With the loss the Cougars fall to 1-2-0 on the season while the Bulldogs improve to 2-1-1.
 
The game began with WSU controlling play on the Gonzaga half of the field. The Cougars had two early shots inside the box but did not have enough behind either to threaten the Bulldog keeper.
 
WSU outshot Gonzaga 13-to-7 on the match, but Gonzaga converted the only goal of the night.
 
In the 16th minute, Gonzaga's Aliyah Miller came close to breaking the scoreless tie with a header that beat WSU goalkeeper Ella Dederick, but Kailiana Johnson was on the goal line to clear the ball away and erase the threat. Two minutes later, the Bulldogs broke through as Madeline Gotta sent a long cross to the far post from the right side. Best headed the ball back into the net at the 18:44 mark for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Cougars had a chance to draw even in the 50th minute when Kelsee Crenshaw's blast from 30 yards out hit the crossbar before being cleared by the Gonzaga defense. In the 88th minute, Maegan O'Neill's shot from distance rebounded off the Gonzaga keeper but Crenshaw's putback from inside the box went just wide.
 
The Cougars return home to host Montana Friday, Sept. 2 at Lower Soccer Field. Match time is set for 7 p.m.