Sept. 22, 2011

Box Score

NAMPA, Id. - Midfielder Emily Frankland (Sr., Sammamish/Skyline) scored a goal in the 14th minute and it proved to be the game winner as Western Washington University blanked Northwest Nazarene University, 2-0, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest Thursday at the NNU Soccer Field.

The Vikings, who improved to 3-2-2 overall and 2-1-0 in GNAC action, ran their unbeaten string over the Crusaders to 16 (15-0-1). WWU leads the series 22-1-1, its only loss coming in 2003.

NNU fell to 3-4-0 overall and 1-2-0 in league play. The Crusaders were held scoreless for just the second time this season and for the first time in four home games.

"It feels great to get our first road win of the season," said WWU coach Travis Connell (9th year, 95-54-18). "We got contributions from a lot of players today and we improved throughout the game. I'm really proud of their performance."

Frankland's goal was her third of the season, half of WWU's total of six. She scored from eight yards out with her left foot, the shot going off the goalkeeper's hands into the back corner, after collecting a cross from Katie Griffith (Sr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison).

"Finally a go-to person," Connell said of Frankland's effort. "That's important for us."

Brina Sych (So., Vancouver/Union) scored the Vikings' other goal off a corner kick in the 47th minute. It was her second goal of the season and marked just the second time that WWU has scored two goals in a game this fall.

One of the defensive stalwarts for WWU was freshman Brianna Jones (Bonney Lake), who spelled all-star Alicia Patten (Sr., Seattle/Holy Names).

Patten played just 30 minutes as she recovers from a hip flexor sustained last week.

"We could have played Patten more, but Jones was just fantastic in the back," said Connell.

The shutout was the fourth this season for WWU goalkeeper Jamie Arthurs (Jr., Richland), who made one save. That improved her goals against average to 0.53.

Western next goes to Montana State Billings on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) for a GNAC counter.

Western Washington vs. Northwest NazareneDate: 09/22/11 Attendance: 75Goals by Period     1   2     TotalWestern Washington  1   2 ---   2Northwest Nazarene  0   0 ---   0SCORING SUMMARY:WWU - Frankland (Griffith), 14:42WWU - Sych (off corner kick), 46:49Shots: Western Washington 12, NNU 5Corner kicks: Western Washington 7, NNU 3Fouls: Western Washington 10, NNU 7Saves: Western Washington 1 (Arthurs 1), NNU 5 (Zickefoose 5)