Oct. 21, 2010

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Midfielder Brina Sych (Fr., Vancouver/Union) scored in the first half, but Western Washington University couldn't hold the lead and tied Central Washington University, 1-1 in overtime, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer game Thursday night at Orca Field on the Whatcom CC campus.

Western is now 9-2-3 overall and remains second in the GNAC standings at 6-2-2.

Serena Tomaso scored the equalizer for Central, which is 4-8-2 overall and 4-5-1 in the GNAC.

Sych gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute with just the third shot of the game for either team. Midfielder Jackie Thomas (Jr., Seattle/Kennedy) played a ball into the penalty area that took a high bounce, and Sych sprinted in from the right side and hit a half-volley from eight yards out for her second goal of the season.

The Wildcats evened the score in the 66th minute. A low cross from the right end line by Kaycie Hutchins eluded the Western defense, allowing Tomaso a tap-in for her seventh goal of the year.

"It's disappointing, it feels like a loss because we didn't play well," said Western coach Travis Connell. "We weren't consistent. Technically, we weren't sharp, so the game was a struggle because we were chasing a lot."

The Vikings had a 16-8 advantage in shot attempts, including a 6-2 edge in overtime, garnering two good chances to win in extra time. A header by Kayla Russ (R-Fr., Puyallup/Bellarmine Prep) in the 94th minute was headed off the line by Hutchins, and in the dying seconds, Kristin Maris (Fr., Issaquah) deflected a free kick just wide.

The Vikings next host nationally ranked and GNAC-leading Seattle Pacific on Saturday (4 p.m.).

"We get an opportunity to bounce back Saturday," said Connell. "We shouldn't have any trouble getting motivated for that."

Western Washington vs. Central WashingtonDate: 10/21/10   Attendance: 130Goals by Period     1  2 OT    TotalCentral Washington  0  1  0 ---  1Western Washington  1  0  0 ---  1SCORING SUMMARY:WWU - Sych (Thomas), 38:21CWU - Tomaso (Hutchins), 65:17Shots: Western Washington 16, Central Washington 8Corner kicks: Western Washington 7, Central Washington 3Fouls: Western Washington 10, Central Washington 11Saves: Western Washington 2 (Arthurs 2), Central Washington 6 (Butterfield 6)