Sept. 23, 2010

Box Score

NAMPA, Id. - Forward Claire Morgan (Sr., Bellingham) scored one goal and assisted on the other as nationally ranked Western Washington University shut out Northwest Nazarene University, 2-0, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer game Thursday afternoon at the NNU Soccer Field.

The Vikings, ranked No.20 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America/NCAA Division II Top 25, improved to 6-0-1 overall and remained undefeated in GNAC play at 3-0-0. They are unbeaten in their last 14 games, dating back into the 2009 season.

Northwest Nazarene dropped to 3-4-0 overall and 1-2-0 in conference play.

"It was a tough game," said Western coach Travis Connell (8th year, 88-46-13). "They were prepared for us and worked hard and made it really difficult for us in the first half with limited chances for either team. Then we made some adjustments and played much better in the second half and created a lot of chances."

Morgan gave Western a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute, breaking loose and blasting a shot from the right corner of the penalty box into the left corner of the goal.

In the 84th minute, the Vikings' Kayla Russ (RS-Fr., Puyallup/Bellarmine Prep) scored her first collegiate goal on a volley from 13 yards out off a free kick by Morgan.

Morgan now has four goals and four assists this season, both league-leading figures. She has scored 21 goals during her four-year career and her career assist total of 23 is just three short of the school record.

Western had a 15-9 edge in shots, and the Crusaders led 8-2 in corner kicks. Goalkeeper Jamie Arthurs (So., Richland) made four saves in notching her fifth shutout of the season for the Vikings.

Western now leads its series with Northwest Nazarene, 20-1-1.

The Vikings host Montana State Billings in a GNAC counter Saturday (1 p.m.) at Orca Field on the campus of Whatcom CC.

Western Washington vs. Northwest NazareneDate: 09/23/10   Attendance: 73Goals by Period     1   2     TotalWestern Washington  1   1 ---   2Northwest Nazarene  0   0 ---   0SCORING SUMMARY:WWU - Morgan (Unassisted), 7:17WWU - Russ (Morgan), 83:48Shots: Western Washington 15, Northwest Nazarene 9Corner kicks: Western Washington 2, Northwest Nazarene 8Fouls: Western Washington 7, Northwest Nazarene 12Saves: Western Washington 4 (Arthurs 4), Northwest Nazarene 4 (Zickefoose 4)