Oct. 17, 2008

Box Score

LACEY, Wash. - Forward Gibson Bardsley (So., Fall City/Mount Si) scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 34th minute as Western Washington University defeated Saint Martin's University, 3-1, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer contest Friday at the Regional Athletic Complex.

It was the second straight win for the Vikings, who improved to 7-5-2 overall and 3-1-0 in the GNAC. Saint Martin's fell to 2-9-1 overall and 1-3-1 in league play.

"We had a good energy level despite the long bus ride down here," said Western coach Travis Connell. "I was proud of them for working hard and executing."

Western's Tyler Bjork (Fr., Kirkland/Juanita) opened the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 18th minute, scoring from two yards off a rebound following a corner kick.

Saint Martin's tied it at 1-1 in the 34th minute on a goal by Gabriel O'Hara, Anthony Armitage being credited with an assist.

Bardsley's goal, termed "one of the prettiest of the year" by Connell, came two minutes later. On a quick counter attack down the left side, Kellan Brown (Fr., Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep) had a one-touch thru ball that split the defenders and Bardsley one-touched it into the left corner of the net.

The Vikings got an insurance goal in the 90th minute when Oscar Jimenez (Fr., Mount Vernon) knocked it in from six yards after Darragh Simm (So., Woodinville) served a cross to the far post.

Western had an 18-10 advantage in shots and a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Goalkeeper Cameron Copps-Tilley (Jr., Vancouver/Fort Vancouver) had six saves for the Vikings.

Western entertains Montana State-Billings on Sunday (1 p.m.) in a GNAC counter at Orca Field on the Whatcom CC campus.

Western Washington vs. Saint Martin'sDate: 10/17/08   Attendance: 102Goals by Period     1   2      TotalWestern Washington  2   1  ---   3Saint Martin's      1   0  ---   1SCORING SUMMARY:WWU - Bjork (unassisted), 17:15SMU - O'Hara (Armitage), 33:30WWU - Bardsley (Brown) 34:41WWU - Jimenez (Simm), 89:47Shots: Western Washington 18, Saint Martin's 10Corner kicks: Western Washington 4, Saint Martin's 3Fouls: Western Washington 11, Saint Martin's 9Saves: Western Washington 6 (Copps-Tilley 6), Saint Martin's 6 (Lubin 6)