Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Senior forward Catherine Miles (Anacortes, WA) scored with just under five minutes remaining Saturday, lifting nationally ranked Western Washington University to a 1-0 victory over Seattle Pacific University in a second-round game of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Tournament at Harrington Field.

The triumph means the Vikings (19-1-1), the top seed in the West Region and No. 2 nationally in the most recent NCAA Division II Coaches Poll, will host the West Regional final Thursday against Azusa Pacific.

Miles' goal, her team-high 11th of the season, came in the 86th minute. Senior forward Savanna Moorehouse (Bonney Lake, WA) took a pass 20 yards straight out from goal and with her first touch, played a curling, half-volleyed through ball into the path of Miles, who was running into the penalty area from the left. Miles then placed a shot inside the right post from eight yards out. Freshman forward Gabriela Pelogi (Federal Way, WA) was also credited with an assist on the play.

"It was a perfect pass by Savanna right into my stride," said Miles, who moved into sole possession of 4th place in WWU history in career goals with 43. "I just had to stay calm and put it in the corner of the net."

It was the fourth time this season the Vikings had defeated the Falcons. In addition to two regular-season victories, Western had claimed a 3-1 triumph in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament championship game last Saturday.

"I think a lot of our players felt like this would be the toughest game we'll play," said WWU coach Travis Connell. "It's an archrival, and SPU was well-prepared with an excellent game plan. They pushed us to the limit."

The Vikings had a 16-7 advantage in shot attempts, but SPU (14-6-2), the No. 5 seed in the West, had a pair of good chances to take the lead early in the second half. In the 51st minute, Isabel Farrell hit the left post with a shot from the right side of the penalty area, and four minutes later, a blast from 25 yards by Hannah Heusers forced WWU goalkeeper Ashley Haden (Sr., Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson) to punch the ball over the crossbar.

"We were facing two of the top players in the entire country," Connell said. "Even just to limit them as we did is a huge accomplishment. We also got a great contribution from our bench. We're a deep team and it's such a massive thing in tournament play to get those minutes."

This is the third time in the last four seasons Western has reached the West Region championship game. The Vikings fell in overtime to UC San Diego in 2012, and claimed a 1-0 victory over Cal State San Bernardino in 2013.

UP NEXT: Harrington Field is the site for the next two rounds of the NCAA II tournament, starting with the South Central (4 p.m.) and West Region (7 p.m.) championships on Thursday. The two regional winners meet on Sat., Nov. 23 (1 p.m.).