Women's Soccer | 11/7/2013 10:24:00 PM

Box Score

TUKWILA, Wash. – The No. 10 Western Washington University women's soccer team used a golden goal three minutes into the first overtime to pull out a 2-1 victory over Western Oregon University in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships' semifinals Thursday.

It didn't take long into overtime for Brina Sych to send her team into the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship final Saturday night. After battling to a 1-1 score in 90 minutes of regulation, the senior Western Washington (17-1-0) defender converted a shot from inside the box in just the third minute of overtime, handing the Vikings a dramatic 2-1 victory over Western Oregon in the second semifinal match at Starfire Sports Complex.

Brianna Jones got Western Washington on the board in the second half with a left-footed shot inside a crowded goal box that found its way into the upper-left corner of the net.

In the 74th minute, fortune turned in WOU's favor, as a cross sent into the box by Peyton Moon bounced past WWU goalkeeper Alyssa Beauchamp, and was tapped into an open net by Savannah Bogan.

Each team had opportunities down the stretch, but neither could convert as the teams moved to the first overtime match in GNAC tournament history.

Shortly after the opening whistle of overtime, Sych shook off a defender, gathered herself in the cluster of players, and finished a low shot past Wolves' goalkeeper Amanda Rose Johnson into the back of the net. Johnson made six saves in the match.

The Vikings had a 21-3 advantage in shots. WWU placed eight on goal, while Western Oregon had two. The Wolves (9-4-6) were attempting to hand Western Washington its second defeat of the season. WOU upset the then-ranked No. 2 Vikings earlier this season in Monmouth, Ore. WWU has now won five straight since that setback.

Western Washington advances to the championship game to face Seattle Pacific. WWU, which has twice beaten Seattle Pacific by the score of 2-1 this season, will square off against the Falcons in the Championship Match at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Starfire Sports Complex. The Vikings will be competing for their second straight conference tournament title.

Western Oregon (9-4-6) vs. Western Washington (17-1)
 Date: Nov 07, 2013  Attendance: 350
 Weather: 45 with some wind and rain

 Goals by period       1  2 OT  Tot
 ----------------------------------
 Western Oregon......  0  1  0 -  1
 Western Washington..  0  1  1 -  2

 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  59:28 WWU Jones,Brianna (4) (Bertucci,Jessica) - corner brought down in traffic turn left short pass shot from 5 yds
  2.  73:50 WOU Bogan,Savannah (3) (Moon,Peyton) - bouncing ball into box GK slipped bounced over tap in at the line
  3.  92:08 WWU Sych,Brina (2) (Jones,Brianna) - controlled in box laid off to right shot 8 yds

 Shots: Western Oregon 3, Western Washington 21
 Saves: Western Oregon 6 (Johnson,Amanda Rose 6), Western Washington 1
 (Beauchamp,Alyssa 1)