Box Score Oct. 30, 2014 Box Score
NAMPA, Id. - Nationally ranked Western Washington University recorded its fourth straight shutout and 13th this season as it blanked Northwest Nazarene University, 2-0, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer contest on Thursday, Oct. 30, at the NNU campus soccer field.
Both goals came off crosses for the Vikings, who ranked 14th in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll and remained No.1 in the West Region rating.
WWU stays unbeaten at 14-0-3 overall and is 10-0-3 in conference play where it already has clinched the GNAC regular-season championship.
NNU, which suffered its fourth straight loss, dropped to 4-10-3 overall and 3-9-1 in GNAC play.
"We had to work hard for this one," said WWU head coach Travis Connell (12th year, 155-61-23). "They (NNU) were very motivated and played really well today."
WWU scored on its first attack of the game as forward Catherine Miles (So., Anacortes) got behind the Crusader outside back and turned the corner.
"She made a great cross and a defender kicked it in," Connell said of the own goal in the second minute. "She (the defender) couldn't really do anything else as she was sprinting back trying to mark her man and Miles put it in the perfect spot."
The Vikings' second goal came in the 69th minute when a corner kick by Stephanie Hamilton (Jr., Orting/Bellarmine Prep) hit off the crossbar and was headed in by Emily Webster (Fr., Bellingham/Sehome).
The goal was Webster's second of the season and it was Hamilton's third assist.
"Webster was in the air when the ball bounced off the crossbar, but was able to contort her body and head the ball in," said Connell. "It was one of the most athletic things I've seen."
The Vikings entered the contest leading NCAA II in goals against average at 0.24, save percentage at 93.2 and shutout percentage at 0.75. They have allowed just four goals this season, one of those an own goal.
Anchoring the WWU defense was Brianna Jones (Sr., Bonney Lake).
"Bri did a fantastic job in the back," Connell said. "They've got some athletic girls up top, who played pretty direct. She won balls and covered well."
WWU is now 29-1-1 overall against the Crusaders.
WWU closes out its regular season Saturday, Nov. 1 (5 p.m.) with a GNAC counter at Simon Fraser.
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014Nampa, Id., NNU Soccer Field, NNU campus
Western Washington 2, Northwest Nazarene 0
Scoring - 1. WWU, Own goal (Unassisted), 1:20;2. WWU, Emily Webster (Stephanie Hamilton), 68:39.
Shots - WWU 16, NNU 10Saves - WWU 1 (Ashley Haden 1); NNU 5 (Daniele Ortiz 5)Corner kicks - WWU 10, NNU 5Fouls - WWU 10, NNU 9Attendance: 222
