Women's Soccer | 10/10/2012 12:18:00 PM

SOCCER - WESTERN OREGON AT SIMON FRASER
Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. – Burnaby, B.C.

LIVE VIDEO: WOU TV (Stretch Internet)
LIVE STATS: WOU TV (Stretch Internet)

SOCCER - WESTERN OREGON AT WESTERN WASHINGTON
Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 – 4:00 p.m. – Bellingham, Wash.

LIVE STATS: WOU TV (Stretch Internet)

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Unbeaten in four straight contests, the Western Oregon women's soccer team returns to action this week for a pair of conference matches as the Wolves travel to face Simon Fraser on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m. before closing out the week at No. 23 Western Washington on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 4:00 p.m.

The Wolves enter the important week with a mark of 6-5-1 overall, 4-3-1 in league play, after defeating Saint Martin's and Montana State Billings in shutouts last week. The victories moved WOU up to fourth-place in the conference standings as the Wolves have blanked three opponents in a row for the first time since the 1999 season.

The top four teams in the league standings at the end of the season will advance to the GNAC Women's Soccer Championship with a chance to earn the automatic berth for the conference into the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship.

“We're playing really well right now and the team is excited heading into a big week of matches,” head coach Steve Ancheta said. “We just have to continue to stay focused and within our mindset of doing the little things necessary to control the pace of each match.”

Senior Lindsay Bauman leads the WOU attack as the midfielder leads the team with four goals and 10 points this season. Last week, Bauman scored two goals while adding an assist as she earned Red Lion GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The senior has connected on two game-winning goals this year, including a goal in the 109th minute that gave the Wolves a 1-0 win over MSUB on Saturday. A balanced WOU attack has seen nine separate players score goals this season as the Wolves rank third in the league in scoring at 1.58 goals per game.

Sophomore goalkeeper Hillary Lutz leads a surging WOU defense as the Wolves have moved to fourth in the league in scoring defense, giving up only 1.11 goals per game. Meanwhile, Macy Bothman, Rebecca Hoiland, Danielle Hayward and Melissa Gonzalez have anchored a back-line that has seen WOU only give up one shot on goal in two of the last four games.

Simon Fraser enters the week looking to pick up its first conference victory of the season as the Clan are 1-10 overall, 0-8 in league play. Olivia Aguilar and Aja Choy-Halo have posted goals for the Clan this season while Amanda Gilliland has recorded a 2.00 goals against average in net.

Nationally-ranked WWU is the league leader heading into the week as the Vikings currently have a mark of 10-2 overall, 7-1 in league play. The Vikings have won five straight after defeating Simon Fraser and Central Washington last week. Catherin Mees and Kristin Maris lead the WWU attack with six goals apiece as Jamie Arthurs leads one of the nation's stingiest defenses, allowing only 0.33 goals per game.

Earlier this season, WOU defeated Simon Fraser, 4-1, while dropping a 2-0 decision at the hands off WWU.

Following this week's matches, WOU will remain on the road as the Wolves travel to Ellensburg, Wash., to face Central Washington on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 4:00 p.m.