BELLINGHAM, Wash. – In a battle of two ranked teams, No. 4 Seattle Pacific University defeated No. 12 Western Washington University on a rainy Thursday evening at Harrington Field.
The Falcons set the tone early scoring just 51 seconds into the contest, and never looked back adding a late first-half goal and an early second-half marker in the 3-0 victory.
WWU suffered just its second loss of the season – both vs. SPU – dropping to 10-2-2 overall and moved to second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings at 7-2-0. SPU improved to 10-1-1 overall and retook the top spot in the table at 7-1-1 in GNAC play.
In a rematch of the 1-0 overtime victory by the Falcons on October 9 in Seattle where the only goal was scored in the 95th minute, the Falcons needed just 51 seconds to get off to the quick start. SPU capitalized on a defensive miscue near midfield by the Vikings, with forward Sophia Chilczuk gathering the turnover and sprinted towards the goal. The play left Chilczuk in a one-on-one situation with WWU goalkeeper Natalie Dierickx, who was drawn off her line, leaving a streaking Makena Rietz open for a controlled tap-in after a well-time pass from Chilczuk.
The Falcons made it 2-0 late in the first half when Madison Ibale headed home a free kick from Emmy Moore from close quarters. The free kick came from the left flank 28 yards out, with Moore's right-footed delivery sailing to the far post where Ibale connected from close quarters.
SPU added a third goal in the 57th minute when Chilczuk scored her fourth goal of the season off assists by Sophie Beadle and Chloe Gellhaus.
WWU recorded 11 shots in the game with five on frame. SPU had 14 shots (8 on target). WWU goalkeeper Natalie Dierickx made five saves.
WWU was shut out for just the second time this season (0-0 tie at Colorado School of Mines).
#4 Seattle Pacific 3, #12 Western Washington 0
Date: October 21, 2021
Field: Harrington Field Site: Bellingham, WA
Weather: 63°, Light Rain Att: 365
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-------------------------------------------
#4 Seattle Pacific.......... 2 1 - 3
#12 Western Washington...... 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 00:51 SPU Rietz (Chilczuk)
2. 39:03 SPU Ibale (Moore)
3. 56:46 SPU Chilczuk (Beadle, Gellhaus)
Shots: SPU 14, WWU 11
Shots on Goal: SPU 8, WWU 5
Saves: WWU 5 (Dierickx – 5), SPU 5 (Travis – 5, Knocke - 0)
Corners: WWU 2, SPU 0
Fouls: WWU 10, SPU 7
Yellow Cards: WWU 1, SPU 0
Offsides: SPU 1, WWU 0
Kits: WWU (Light Blue), SPU (Maroon)
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. SEATTLE PACIFIC
After holding a 21-game unbeaten streak vs. SPU, the Vikings are now 0-3-1 in the last four meetings dating back to the start of the 2021 spring season. The all-time series is even at 21-21-7, with WWU going 12-9-2 in home games vs. the Falcons (7-1-1 at Harrington Field).
The Vikings (10-2-2, 7-2-0 GNAC) close out a four-game homestand and the 2021 regular-season Harrington Field slate hosting Montana State Billings on Saturday at 1 pm. Prior to the game, WWU's eight seniors will be honored while playing for the final time in a regular-season game at Harrington Field. The complete 2021 season schedule, complete with live coverage links, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/21_WSOC.
Here is a look at the updated GNAC standings following play on Thursday, with the Vikings in second place in the table with 21 points at 7-2-0 in league play:
|
GNAC STANDINGS
|
CONF
|
PTS
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Seattle Pacific
|
7-1-1
|
22
|
10-1-1
|
.875
|
4-0-0
|
6-1-1
|
0-0-0
|
Won 1
|
|
2.
|
Western Washington
|
7-2-0
|
21
|
10-2-2
|
.786
|
7-1-1
|
2-1-1
|
1-0-0
|
Lost 1
|
|
3.
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
5-3-1
|
16
|
7-3-2
|
.615
|
4-0-1
|
3-3-1
|
0-1-0
|
Won 3
|
|
4.
|
Simon Fraser
|
5-4-0
|
15
|
4-7-1
|
.375
|
3-3-0
|
1-4-1
|
0-0-0
|
Lost 1
|
|
5.
|
Western Oregon
|
3-4-2
|
11
|
4-7-2
|
.385
|
3-3-1
|
1-3-1
|
0-1-0
|
Lost 1
|
|
6.
|
Montana State Billings
|
2-5-2
|
8
|
5-6-3
|
.464
|
4-2-1
|
0-4-2
|
1-0-0
|
Lost 1
|
|
7.
|
Central Washington
|
2-7-0
|
6
|
3-10-0
|
.231
|
1-4-0
|
1-4-0
|
1-2-0
|
Won 1
|
|
8.
|
Saint Martin's
|
2-7-0
|
6
|
3-10-0
|
.231
|
3-3-0
|
0-7-0
|
0-0-0
|
Lost 6
|
|
Thursday's GNAC Results
|
|
#4 Seattle Pacific 3, at Western Washington 0
at Simon Fraser 1, Montana State Billings 0
Central Washington 3, at Saint Martin's 2
Northwest Nazarene 2, at Western Oregon 0
|
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).
The Western Washington University women's soccer program has risen to the top of the Division II ranks, with a string of eight consecutive appearances in the NCAA Championships. WWU has advanced to the NCAA II Final Four in four of the last seven seasons and played for the West Region championship in seven of the last eight seasons. The Vikings played for the 2019 national title and 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 seven of the last eight Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season titles and won four of the last five GNAC Tournament titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019). Head coach Travis Connell is in his 19th season leading the program in 2021, and has led the Vikings to 10 trips to the NCAA Championships (8 straight) and 16 consecutive winning seasons. He picked up his 400th career victory October 16 vs. Simon Fraser. WWU finished the 2019 season with a 23-3-0 record, winning the West Regional title and played in the national championship game falling 1-0 to Grand Valley State. WWU's 179 wins during the 2010s decade were the 6th-most out of 1,043 NCAA women's soccer programs.
