Box Score Nov. 15, 2014 Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University's season and long unbeaten streak came to an end, as Tina Benson scored midway through the first half to lift Cal State Stanislaus to a 1-0 victory over the host Vikings in a West Regional semifinal of the NCAA Division II National Women's Soccer Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Robert S. Harrington Field on the WWU campus.
The Vikings, ranked No.12 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America/NCAA II Top 25 and the top seed in the West Regional, had a 20-match unbeaten streak end and concluded their season 16-1-4.
Cal State Stanislaus, the No.4 seed, improved to 15-4-1 and advanced to next weekend's regional final, where they will face Cal State L.A. or Cal Poly Pomona at a site to be determined.
The Warriors scored the lone goal in the 25th minute with their first on-target shot of the contest. Kristen Coleman tracked down a loose ball on the right side, beat a defender to the end line and played a perfect cutback into the path of Benson, who blasted the ball inside the near post with her first touch.
"There were two really good teams playing and the chances were few today," said WWU coach Travis Connell (12th year). "Give Cal State Stanislaus credit, they created a good chance against the run of play and the finish was perfect."
WWU's best chance to tie came just three minutes after the Warrior goal, as Catherine Miles (Jr., Anacortes) won a ball near the end line at the left edge of the penalty area, cut back into the middle and hit a shot from 15 yards that skimmed the crossbar.
In the second half, the Vikings pressed in search of an equalizer, and their cleanest effort came in the 68th minute when Emily Webster's (Fr., Bellingham/Sehome) shot from 10 yards went just wide of the post. WWU had the ball inside the penalty area multiple times after that, but couldn't get a clean shot off.
"We knew how good Western is defensively," said Cal State Stanislaus coach Gabriel Bolton. "We thought that if we could just crack it once, and then be strong defensively, we'd have a chance."
Cal State Stanislaus had a 13-12 advantage in shots, with both teams having four shots on target.
The loss also snapped a 21-match home unbeaten streak for the Vikings, who last lost a home game in the final regular-season contest of 2012. They did extend a string of not giving up more than one goal in regulation to 60 contests, and the goal was just the seventh allowed by WWU this year.
"Of course we're disappointed, but this is what you play for, to give everything and take those risks," said Connell whose team made its third consecutive national tournament appearance and its sixth in NCAA II.
"When you fall short, it's painful. But I'm proud of what we've accomplished. Our seniors, and the entire team, have set a benchmark where we expect to make the NCAA tournament every year."
WWU, which finished 8-1-1 at home this season, had reached the national semifinals in 2013 and got to the regional final in 2012.
The goal by Benson was her second of the season.
Cal State Stanislaus advanced to the regional semifinal by defeating Seattle Pacific, 2-1 in overtime, on Thursday.
WWU earned an at-large regional berth after winning a third consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season title (11-0-3) and reaching the championship game at last week's GNAC Tournament. The Vikings lost 5-4 in a penalty kick tiebreaker to Seattle Pacific after tying 1-1 in overtime.
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014Bellingham, Wash., Harrington Field, WWU campus
Cal State Stanislaus 1, Western Washington 0
Scoring - 1. CSUS, Tina Benson (Kirsten Coleman), 24:15
Shots - WWU 12, CSUS 13Saves - WWU 3 (Ashley Haden 3); CSUS 4 (Chelsea Lewandowski 4)Corner kicks - WWU 3, CSUS 4Fouls - WWU 13, CSUS 8Attendance: 376
