Box Score Nov. 2, 2017 Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Western Washington University junior forward Karli White scored in the 51st minute and sophomore Emily Bunnell added an insurance goal late in the second half to lead the No. 2-seed Vikings to a 2-0 victory over No. 3-seed Seattle Pacific Thursday afternoon in the first semifinal game of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championships at Tuominen Yard.
After having its 39-game winning streak snapped last week vs. Concordia, nationally 12th-ranked WWU got back to its winning ways with the shutout victory to improve to 16-1-0 on the season. The road win improved WWU to 11-0-0 away from Bellingham this season, and extended the road undefeated streak to 23 consecutive games dating back to the start of last year's national championship season (22-0-1).
The Vikings are now undefeated at 9-0-2 all-time in GNAC Championships play and will play in the championship game for the sixth consecutive season. WWU will face No. 1 seed and tournament host Concordia (3-0 winner over Northwest Nazarene) at 1 pm on Saturday for the GNAC title. Seattle Pacific falls to 10-7-0 on the season, losing to the Vikings for the third time in 2017.
"It was cagey affair early between two really good teams," said head coach Travis Connell. "Both teams were feeling each other out, but I really liked how we started and created some really good chances."
The Vikings and Falcons played to a scoreless tie in the first half, with WWU holding a 6-0 advantage in shots, with one on target by Pelogi in the 22nd minute.
WWU broke through in the 51st minute when White (North Bend, WA/Mount Si/Seattle U.) scored from close range off a restart by senior midfielder Emily Webster (Bellingham, WA/Sehome). Sophomore defender Emily Nelson (Puyallup, WA/Bellarmine Prep) flicked on a header from 12-yards out off a free kick from Webster, finding White in close quarters who tapped the ball in for her 9th goal of the season.
"The early second half goal was exactly what we were looking for and we have been really dangerous on set pieces this year," added Connell. "We showed a lot of hustle and grit on both of those goals. In playoff games, sometimes it isn't the prettiest goals that get you the results you need."
The Falcons had their best opportunity in the 62nd minute when Kaytlin Willis found space in the left side of the box after a corner kick, firing a shot off the crossbar. SPU freshman Sophia Chilczuk also put a shot off the post on a long-range attempt in the 70th minute, but the WWU defense stiffened and did not allow a single shot for the remainder of the game.
Western added a key insurance goal in the 79th minute by Bunnell (Kirkland, WA/Lake Washington). Junior defender Taylor Hallquist (Vancouver, WA/Columbia River) created the opportunity with a run down the right side, threading a cross to junior forward Gabriela Pelogi (Federal Way, WA), who redirected the ball to Bunnell on the goal line for her second goal of the season.
The WWU defense limited the Falcons to only four shots total in the game, with only one on goal, while recording the 12th shutout of the season. Senior goalkeeper Ashley Homer (Puyallup, WA/College of Saint Rose) notched her 23rd shutout as a Viking, gaining sole possession of 3rd place in the WWU career record book.
Game Notes: Emily Webster appeared in her 87th career game (every game of her WWU career), tied for 4th-most in program history (81st start, 76th consecutive)...Webster recorded her 5th assist of the season and 23rd of her career (5th in WWU history)...Sierra Shugarts moved into the top 10 in career games played with 81 (tied for 10th)...Gabriela Pelogi was credited with her 6th assist of the season (to go with 14 goals), giving her 34 points on the season (tied for 8th in WWU single-season history).
Series vs. SPU: WWU improved to 3-0 vs. SPU this season, out-scoring the Falcons 4-0 in the three games...Vikings have won 9 straight and undefeated in last 16 matches (13-0-3) vs. SPU...recent streak has cut SPU's lead in the all-time series down to 18-17-6.
