Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Midfielder Caitlyn Jobanek (Jr., Springfield, OR/Thurston) scored a pair of goals in the first 19 minutes, leading nationally ranked Western Washington University to a 3-1 victory Saturday over Seattle Pacific University in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer game at Harrington Field.

The Vikings (13-1-0, 8-0-0 GNAC), No. 2 in this week's NCAA Division II National Poll, won their 11th straight game.

Jobanek opened the scoring in the ninth minute. Elise Aylward (Jr., Renton, WA/Lindbergh) won a ball inside the six-yard box to the right of the goal and laid it off to Jobanek, who's right-foot shot went through traffic and inside the near post from 10 yards.

Nine minutes later, Jobanek struck again in similar fashion. Catherine Miles (Anacortes, WA) got to the end line 10 yards to the left of goal and chipped a pass back to Jobanek, who again shot with her first touch, this time hitting a spinning left-footed shot that went in just inside the base of the left post.

Jobanek, who had just one goal in her first two seasons, has three this year, all against SPU (9-3-1, 5-3-1 GNAC).

"She deserves those goals, she's been one of the best players in the conference all year," said WWU coach Travis Connell. "She's been so dynamic, and tonight she played with great energy and took her chances well."

Defender Erin Russell (Jr., Brier, WA/Mountlake Terrace) added the Vikings third goal four minutes into the second half, as her apparent cross from wide on the left sneaked under the crossbar.

Hannah Huesers scored the Falcons' only goal in the 80th minute, winning the ball behind the center circle, dribbling nearly 60 yards and then bending a shot into the upper left corner from 20 yards out.

SPU had a 15-13 advantage in total shots, but Western had an 8-3 edge in shots on target.

"When we play with that kind of energy, we are tough to beat," said Connell. "We got a lot of that from our supporters tonight - the march, the packed house, the drums - this team feeds off of that."

The Vikings travel to Saint Martin's for a GNAC contest Tuesday (3 p.m.)