LOS ANGELES – The string of late-game success for the Western Washington University women's soccer team came up short on Monday, as the No. 9 nationally-ranked Vikings dropped a 1-0 decision at Cal State Los Angeles on an overtime golden goal.

WWU (3-1-0) opened the season with three consecutive 1-0 victories, all with game-winning goals coming in the 83^rd minute or later.

The Vikings had a few chances during their match, but for the most part, it was the Golden Eagles that applied the most pressure in the non-conference match-up at University Stadium. 

CSULA (3-1-0) out-shot the Vikings 14-11 in the match and held an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal.

"It was a good game and one of those contests that made us better because of the challenges we faced," said WWU head coach Travis Connell. "Those challenges only make us a better team. I am proud of our effort and determination, but in the end, we were not dangerous enough against the way they were defending."

After the 90-minute regulation, played in temperatures in the high 80s, ended scoreless, the decisive goal came in the 98^th minute when Anahie Duran netted the golden goal at the 97:13 mark. The goal came after a through ball found Valerie Mares near the top of the 6-yard box, who fired goalward off the post. Duran found the rebound, but her shot was save with a sprawling effort from WWU goalkeeper Natalie Dierickx. Duran was right there again for the rebound, this time finding the back of the net for the game winner.

Dierickx (Kirkland, WA/Inglemoor/Colorado St.) finished with seven fantastic saves, but fell short of her fourth clean sheet of the season. Dierickx was earlier today named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

"We asked a lot of Natalie today, as she was critical to how we were moving the ball on offense and made some fantastic saves," added Connell. "They got us on some counters, but Natalie was right there making some great plays. I am really proud of how she played today."

WWU returns to action this Thursday hosting Texas Woman's University at Harrington Field with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm. Tickets are available via advance purchase at WWUVikings.com/WS_Tickets and at the Harrington Field Box Office one hour prior to kickoff. Harrington Field will also play host to a non-conference game between Texas Woman's and Concordia on Saturday at noon.

WWU returns home to host Texas Woman's University on Thursday night at Harrington Field (7 pm). The game will stream live and feature statistical updates with links available at WWUVikings.com/Live. The complete 2019 schedule and additional information on the Vikings can be viewed atWWUVikings.com/WSOC.

Cal State LA 1, #9 Western Washington 0 (Overtime)
Date: Sept. 16, 2019
Field: University Stadium  Site: Los Angeles, CA
 
Goals by period          1  2  OT   Tot
---------------------------------------
Western Washington.....  0  0  0  -  0
Cal State LA...........  0  0  1  -  1
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  97:13  CSULA  Duran
 
Shots: CSULA 14, WWU 11
Shots on Goal: CSULA 8, WWU 2
Saves: WWU 7 (Dierickx - 7), CSULA 2 (Leal – 2)
Kits: WWU – Light Blue; CSULA – White

Fans can follow WWU women's soccer online at WWUVikings.com/WSoc, and via social media on Twitter (@WWU_WSoccer), Instagram (@wwu_wsoccer) and Facebook (@WWUsoccerwomens). All home matches feature a live webcast, as well as most road matches, with links on how to follow the games available at WWUVikings.com/Live.

The Western Washington University women's soccer program has risen to the top of the Division II ranks, with a string of seven consecutive appearances in the NCAA Championships. WWU has advanced to the NCAA II Final Four in three of the last six seasons and played for the West Region championship in six of the last seven seasons. The Vikings won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016 with an undefeated 24-0-1 record, beating three-time defending national champion Grand Valley State 3-2 in the title game in Kansas City, Missouri. Including the national championship run, the Vikings put together a 39-game winning streak (4th-longest in NCAA II history) and a 40-game unbeaten streak. The program has claimed six of the last seven Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season titles, going 80-5-5 (.917) in league play during this stretch, and has won three of the last four GNAC Championships titles (2005, 2016, 2017). Head coach Travis Connell enters his 17^th season leading the program in 2019, and has led the Vikings to nine trips to the NCAA Championships and 15 consecutive winning seasons.