Box Score Aug. 24, 2017 Box Score
LANGLEY, B.C. â€" The Western Washington University women's soccer team closed out its preseason with a 3-1 defeat in an exhibition friendly against Canadian powerhouse Trinity Western University Thursday evening at Chase Office Field.
After a scoreless first half, the Spartans struck first in the 53rd minute, when Rachel Hutchinson beat her defender one-one-one and slotted a ball past WWU goalkeeper Ashley Homer (Sr., Puyallup, WA). Hutchinson struck again in the 65th minute to extend TWU's lead to 2-0. The Vikings cut into the deficit in the 78th minute when junior midfielder Mariah Roggow (Kelso, WA) found a loose ball in the box and tapped it in for her second goal of the preseason. WWU had an opportunity to score the equalizer in the 86th minute when senior Malia Maack (Spokane, WA/Mead) had a clear-cut shot on goal, but TWU keeper Rachel Sydor was in perfect position for the save. TWU added a late goal by Bella Roque in the 90th minute to bring the game to the final score of 3-1.
The Spartans finished with a slight 14-11 edge in shots, while both teams were equal with four shots on goal in the contest.
The match does not count towards the official 2017 season statistics or record, and was one of three exhibition matches played against Canadian schools during the preseason. WWU beat the University of the Fraser Valley 4-1 and played an extended scrimmage on Tuesday at the University of British Columbia.
The Vikings, ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Division II preseason poll after winning the 2016 NCAA II National Championship, officially open the 2017 season next Thursday (Aug. 31) against Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont, Calif. The Vikings will also play Holy Names in the second game of their Northern California road trip on Sept. 2 on the Saint Mary's College campus in Moraga, Calif.
