MONMOUTH, Ore. – Sonoma State entered as the fifth-ranked team in the nation and the Western Oregon University women's soccer team battled right to the end. The Seawolves used a pair of goals in the first half to defeat the Wolves 2-0 on Friday afternoon.
SSU (3-0) generated 20 shots, with eight landing on goal. WOU (0-3) tallied seven shots, with two landing on goal.
The Seawolves had the start they were looking for just a minute in. Molly Murphy put together a nice individual effort along the baseline and got loose for a shot that curled just inside the far post for the 1-0 lead.
Darien Walton then made a couple of saves over the next several minutes to keep the difference at one. Around the 17th minute, Erika Gonzalez Moreno and Chloe Smith each fired shots on goal that were saved.
In the 34th minute, a foul on the Wolves in the box led to a penalty shot for Sonoma State. Julia Pritchard took the shot and put it in the back of the net to move the lead to 2-0.
The Seawolves controlled play throughout much of the second half, but the Wolves kept pushing over the final minutes. With under 10 minutes to go, WOU had a couple of solid looks. Off a corner kick by Gabby Pulliam, Haley King just missed a shot wide and before time ran out, Smith had a header shot just miss to leave the final score of 2-0.
SSU held a 11-7 edge in corner kicks and it was a physical contest with 33 fouls called during the game, as WOU was whistled for 17.
Hannah Rispler and Smith led the Wolves with two shots. King, Gonzalez Moreno and Jada Foster added the other shots. Walton started and went all 90 minutes in goal, coming away with six saves.
Lexi Zandonella-Arasa paced Sonoma State with five shots. Muprhy and Andrea Lozano added three shots apiece. In goal, Phoebe Barnes started and went all 90 minutes in goal, recording the shutout with two saves.
WOU will turn around and host Humboldt State on Sunday starting at 12 p.m. The Lumberjacks played the earlier game on the WOU Soccer Field Friday against Central Washington with Humboldt State claiming the 4-1 victory.
