Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho - Freshman forward Liv Larson scored early in the first half on a goal that would stand as the game-winner leading top-ranked Western Washington University to a 1-0 victory over Northwest Nazarene Thursday afternoon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference match at Finkbeiner Park.

The Vikings kept their undefeated season intact improving to 16-0-1 on the season and 11-0-0 in GNAC play. Having already clinched its record fifth consecutive league title, Western will aim to complete only the second perfect conference season in GNAC history on Saturday at Montana State Billings. NNU falls to 4-12-0 overall and 2-9-0 in league play.

Larson (Arlington, WA) scored her fourth goal of the season late in the 5th minute of the game. Senior Caitlyn Jobanek (Springfield, OR/Thurston) passed to sophomore Gabriela Pelogi (Federal Way, WA), who then found Larson who beat NNU goalie Daniele Ortiz one-on-one to the right post.

"It was a very nice early goal by Liv to get us started...off two great touches," said head coach Travis Connell. "Overall we were not as sharp or didn't have our usual edge, but we pulled through. We organized well and defended well again with solid play by Sierra (Shugarts) and others. A good team win."

Redshirt freshman goal keeper Hillary O'Connor (Los Angeles, CA/The Archer School) started her first career game and logged the shutout making a pair of saves. Junior goalie Ashley Homer (Puyallup, WA/College of Saint Rose), who is ranked second nationally with a 0.258 goals against average, was held out of game action for an undisclosed reason.

The Vikings out-shot the Crusaders 19-4, including a 9-2 edge in shots on goal.

WWU completes the regular season Saturday with a 1pm MT/12 pm PT match at Montana State Billings (4-9-3, 4-5-2 GNAC).

Match Notes: WWU is now undefeated over its last 41 regular-season matches (37-0-4)...scored in 30 consecutive GNAC matches (regular and postseason matches)...unbeaten in 32 consecutive regular-season matches (30-0-2)...senior Anna DeWeirdt played 33 minute and had 2 shots in her first action of the season (was out with a broken arm)...a win Saturday at MSUB would mark the second perfect season (no ties) in GNAC history joining the 2007 Seattle Pacific Final Four team (14-0-0).