Gonzaga Bulldogs
Overall Rank: #43
#2 West Coast Conference
Gonzaga Team Page
Gonzaga could not quite earn another trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs looked good in non-conference play, picking up wins over UCSB, Cal Poly and Wisconsin, but the West Coast Conference proved to be problematic for Coach Einar Thorarinsson and company. Three draws in their first four conference games put the team in a tough position as far as an at-large bid was concerned and then a couple of loses to Santa Clara virtually put an end to those hopes. It might turn out to be another tough bubble year for Gonzaga in 2014.
2013 Record: 10-6-3, 5-4-3
2013 Postseason: None
Coach: Einar Thorarinsson
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Clark Phillips, F, 9
Assists: Conner Bevans, F, 4; Jakob Granlund, M 4
Shots: Conner Bevans, F, 44; Clark Phillips, F, 44
Saves: Chris Lowrimore, GK, 5
Other Key Returnees: M Lars Ludwigs, M Ben Striar
Key Losses: M Nick Hamer, M Nikolai Littleton, D Andrew Owenson, D Greg Carter, D Josh Phillips, GK Ryan Caballero
Strengths:
At first it will be the offense that carries the Bulldogs. Strikers Clark Phillips and Conner Bevans have worked very well together up top. Phillips is the pure goal scorer and netted a team high nine in 2013. He does not need many opportunities to find the back of the net, but he will get plenty of chances at goals with Bevans helping out. Bevans tallied four assists as a sophomore and is a nice big target in the box as well. Midfielders Jakob Granlund, Lars Ludwigs and Ben Striar all bring starting experience to the Bulldogs. This team will score plenty of goals.
Weaknesses:
But they may allow just as many. The defense has been decimated by graduation and replacing keeper Ryan Caballero and defenders Andrew Owenson, Greg Carter and Josh Phillips will not be a simple task. Between the posts Chris Lowrimore brings the most experience. Last season he made just one appearance in relief of Caballero, but in 2012 he started four games and made five appearances…with mixed results. Freshman Ben Willis will push Lowrimore for playing time and should get plenty of opportunity to win the starting job. Willis is not the only freshmen Coach Thorarinsson has brought in to help the defense. Fischer Gallinger, Austin Giftopoulos, Nick Ulowetz and Ben White are all freshmen defensive-oriented players that Gonzaga will need to step up and play a relatively big role.
Final Projection:
Gonzaga will not have much time for their defense to come around either. With non-conference games against Washington, Marquette, California and Stanford, the Bulldogs could be out of the at-large picture before October. But if that tough slate prepares them for the WCC, it will be well worth it. With an unbalanced schedule debuting in the conference, Gonzaga is poised to make a late push for a title. They have four of their last five games at home and that includes their only matchup against Loyola Marymount, the likely favorite to win the league.
Projected Postseason: None
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 1.32 (90th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 0.89 (42, 2)
Shutout Percentage: 0.37 (48, 1)
Save Percentage: 0.830 (16, 1)
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