Women's Soccer | 11/3/2008 12:30:57 AM
This week:
The Western Oregon University women's soccer team (7-9-2, 3-5-2 GNAC) will be on the road this week as it closes out the 2008 season with two Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches. It will first travel to Seattle to face Seattle Pacific Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4:30 p.m., then to Bellingham, Wash., for its matchup against Western Washington Saturday Nov. 8 at 1:00 p.m.
A look at Seattle Pacific:
Seattle Pacific is 15-1-2 on the season and second place in the GNAC with an 8-1-1 record. The Falcons are currently ranked first in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America regional poll and sixth in the NSCAA national poll. They are also ranked third in the NCAA Division II Far West region.
Statistically, SPU is ranked seventh nationally with a .688 shutout percentage and sixth with 0.36 goals against. Maddie Dickinson and Jesslyn Rahm are first and second in the GNAC in goals against average at 0.42 and 0.43, respectively. Senior midfielder Meredith Teague is second in the GNAC in points (1.78) and goals (12).
Last time these teams met, Seattle Pacific won 4-0 in Monmouth. With the victory, the Falcons pushed their all-time series advantage to 13-2 and extended its winning streak to 12 matches.
A look at Western Washington:
Western Washington is ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II Far West poll with a 12-2-1 record and a 9-0-1 mark in the GNAC. It is also ranked third in the NSCAA regional poll and 18th in the NSCAA national poll. Last week, the Vikings went on the road to defeat Montana State Billings 2-1.
Senior goalkeeper Kylie Broadbent is ranked 30th in the country with a .854 save percentage as the Vikings are 23rd nationally in save percentage (.913) and 27th in goals against (0.73). She is also tied for the conference lead with seven shutouts.
The Wolves played the Vikings tight in their match in Monmouth earlier this season in the GNAC opener, but still lost 2-0. With the win, WWU improved to 17-5 in the all-time series and has now won the last five meetings between the schools.
Last week:
The Western Oregon women's soccer team was in both its matches but could not pull off a victory as it lost a pair of 2-1 matches.
In its final home match of the season, the Wolves lost in double overtime to Saint Martin's 2-1. Both goals in regulation were scored off of penalty kicks. Saint Martin's got the first goal of the match one minute into the second period as the GNAC's leading goal scorer Jill Jensen was dragged down on the left side of the penalty box. The GNAC's third-leading goal scorer, Melinda Ingalls, would answer back in the 52nd minute with a goal of her own to tie the match at one goal apiece as the match went to overtime. SMU won in the 15th minute of overtime as it managed four consecutive shots on goal. Amber Pratt's initial shot from the right side of the field was blocked by Kelsie Blachly but she was unable to control the ball. It then found its way to Jensen who took the shot but it deflected off the crossbar and remained in play. Kayci Donatelli then took another shot from in front of the goal but Blachly was able to get a hand on it and poke it to the left side of the net, unfortunately for the Wolves Jensen was there waiting for the rebound and deposited the ball in the net for her second goal of the match.
Saturday at Central Washington, Western Oregon was outshot in the match 23-5 including 12-1 in the first half but still led the match 1-0 on Stephani Catt's first goal of the season. She got the unassisted goal in the 51st minute of play from eight yards out as she won a scrum at the top of the box and found an opening for the shot. The Wolves held the lead until the 64th minute when Central Washington's Amy Pate made her first of two goals on the day. Pate would get the game-winning goal in the 81st minute as she got the ball at the goalmouth and deposited it in the net. Western Oregon goalie Kelsie Blachly helped the Wolves keep the match close with 10 saves. Sam Slezak led the Wolves' with three shots.
