Women's Soccer | 10/22/2013 11:34:00 PM

GNAC WEEKLY NOTES        SPU WEEKLY NOTES

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University women's soccer team had the best week in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference last week, and looks to ride off of that success hosting Central Washington and Seattle Pacific Thursday and Saturday.

The Wolves (8-2-4, 6-2-2 GNAC) can clinch a berth into the second annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships with one victory in its final four games. Three of WOU's last four contests are at home, where it is 5-0-0 this season. Western Oregon sits a point behind Seattle Pacific, which has 21 points, and Central Washington's 24 points. Western Washington (27 points) and CWU have already punched their postseason tickets.

Western Oregon is unbeaten in its last seven matches, a conference-best streak, including a 1-0 upset win in its last game over then-ranked No. 2 WWU. Not only were the Vikings undefeated, it was the first time they have trailed this season.

The Wolves' recorded their ninth and 10th shutouts of the season last week, breaking a program record for shutouts in a season. To say the WOU defense has been impressive this year is an understatement. Western Oregon is eighth in NCAA Div. II allowing an average of 0.336 goals per game. Its .714 shutout percentage is ninth in the country.

The highest national-ranking stat is Western Oregon's .906 save percentage, which is sixth in the nation. Amanda Rose Johnson is 11th in the country with a .895 save percentage. The junior has blocked 34 of the 38 shots she has faced. She was selected the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week after recording her conference-best seventh and eighth shutouts of the season.

On offense, Makana Pundyke is second in the conference with eight goals. Her 1.38 points per game is third, along with her 18 total points. She has eight goals and a pair of assists. Taylor Higa's five assists is tied for top in the conference.

Ninth-ranked in the West Region, Central Washington (9-4, 8-2), is peaking at the right time, winning six of its last seven. The Wildcats ride into the week on a four-game win streak. They have outscored their opponents 7-1 during the win streak, including a pair of 1-0 road wins at Montana State Billings and Northwest Nazarene last week.

The Wildcats' Savanna Morehouse leads the GNAC with55 shots and a 4.23 shots per game average. She has scored six goals and made four assists this season. Teammate Danielle Brandli also has six goals. Tarah Duty has five assists in 2013. Kayla Lipston has allowed seven goals on the 47 shots she has faced. Her .851 save percentage is second in the conference.

Western Oregon holds a 15-12-4 all-time advantage over Central Washington, including a victory in the last meeting. The Wildcats are 5-1 at home this season, but the lone loss came to WOU on Sept. 21.Pundyke scored a goal in the 78th minute and the defense held on for the shutout. Johnson made three saves in the net, while CWU had a 13-12 edge in shots.

On Saturday, Western Oregon and Seattle Pacific meet for the 26th time. The Wolves' will be looking for only their third victory in the all-time series. Heather Young found the net in the 86th minute to give the Falcons a 1-0 win at home over WOU on Sept. 19. SPU outshot Western Oregon 20-6 in the game.

After opening the season 7-1, SPU has dropped three of its six. But, look closely at the Falcons' slate, and see that three of their losses were to the second and third ranked teams in the country, and all by one goal. Seattle Pacific needs only a draw in one of its four final contests to secure a spot in the GNAC Championships. SPU is home against Saint Martin's Thursday before making the trek to Monmouth.

The Falcons (10-4, 7-3) debuted in the NSCAA NCAA Div. II West Region poll at No. 7 Tuesday. They are second in the conference with 26 goals this season, while giving up only nine goals, which is third. SPU has eight shutouts this year, behind Natalie Harold's six. She has blocked 79 percent of the shots she has faced. Laura Moore leads Seattle Pacific with six goals and four assists.

Thursday's CWU and Western Oregon match is scheduled for 3 p.m., while the Seattle Pacific and WOU game is at 11 a.m. Saturday. It is Hall of Fame weekend at Western Oregon. Fans are encouraged to wear red all weekend for Red Out. Fans wearing red Thursday will receive a giveaway, and several red shirts will be given out at the game.

Fans can bring either of their Thursday or Saturday soccer ticket stubs, or a ticket stub from Saturday's football game, for free entry to Saturday's volleyball 7 p.m. match. Fans can also show their football or volleyball ticket for entry to soccer.