Nov. 6, 2008

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Saint Martin's University goalkeeper Ashley Engel made 14 saves, including two outstanding stops in overtime, as the Saints tied nationally ranked Western Washington University, 1-1, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer contest Thursday at Orca Field on the Whatcom CC campus.

The Vikings, ranked No.15 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America/NCAA Division II Coaches Poll and first in the Far West Region ratings, are now 15-2-2 overall and lead the league standings at 9-0-2. They are 9-1-1 at home this season.

The tie ran Western's unbeaten streak to 14 games (12-0-2), the longest since the Vikings won a school-record 38 straight contests from 1982 to 1984.

Saint Martin's is now 6-10-2 overall and 4-6-2 in GNAC action. The Saints are 2-1-1 in their last four games with the loss going to overtime, following a 4-9-1 start.

Engel had two game-saving saves in overtime. She punched a shot from 23 yards by Western's Kasey Hostetler (Jr., Richland) over the crossbar in the 95th minute and dove to her left to stop a one-on-one opportunity from 18 yards by Lucy Miller (Jr., Palisades, CA/Pacific Palisades) in the 109th minute.

Forward Jill Jensen gave the Saints a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute, scoring her GNAC-leading 15th goal of the season as she collected a long ball from Jessica Wilson and floated a shot from 20 yards over the Western goalkeeper.

The Vikings missed an excellent chance to tie in the 73rd minute when a corner kick by Claire Morgan (So., Bellingham) was headed by Katie Warner (Sr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison) to Brynn Regan (Jr., Mercer Island), whose shot glanced off the left post.

Three minutes later, Western tied the score at 1-1. Midfielder Kelly Irving (Jr., Gig Harbor) found the right corner of the net from 12 yards after taking a cross from Alicia Patten (Fr., Seattle/Holy Names).

With five minutes left in regulation, the Vikings had two scoring chances thwarted by Engel. A free kick by Morgan from just outside the box went to Hostetler, whose shot from eight yards rebounded off Engel to Molly Shannon (So., Bellingham), whose waist-high volley also was stopped by Engel.

Western had respective advantages of 25-9 in shots and 10-4 in corner kicks.

The Vikings close out their regular season Saturday (1 p.m.), playing host to Western Oregon in a GNAC counter.

Western Washington vs. Saint Martin'sDate: 11/6/08  Attendance: 89Goals by Period     1    2   OT     TotalSaint Martin's      1    0    0 ---   1Western Washington  0    1    0 ---   1SCORING SUMMARY:SMU - Jensen (Wilson), 28:49WWU - Irving (Patten), 75:53Shots: Western Washington 25, Saint Martin's 9Corner kicks: Western Washington 10, Saint Martin's 4Fouls: Western Washington 14, Saint Martin's 14Saves: Western Washington 4 (Broadbent 4), Saint Martin's 14 (Engel 14)