SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Facing a ranked opponent on the road for the second consecutive game, the Western Washington University women's soccer team turned in a valiant team effort resulting in a 1-1 draw against No. 13 Point Loma Nazarene University on Tuesday at PLNU Soccer Field.
 
The Vikings received a penalty kick goal from senior Dayana Diaz in the 33rd minute, allowed the equalizer in the 75th minute and then gutted out the final 15 minutes with solid defensive play to earn the 1-1 tie. New NCAA soccer rules this season feature no overtime games during the regular season.
 
Through the first four games of the season, WWU is 1-1-2 on the season with one non-conference game remaining prior to the 14-match Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule. PLNU remained undefeated at 2-0-1 on the season, but has yet to defeat WWU with the Vikings holding a 3-0-2 record in the series.
 
"I am really proud of this group. It seems as if we are running through a gauntlet of quality opponents, but we would not have it any other way," said WWU head coach Travis Connell. "We had to hang on there a little bit near the end in the second half, but sometimes you have to dig deep and have some emergency defense. Today we learned to do that and got a good result against a very quality opponent on the road."
 
After creating a few early chances the Vikings struck through with just over 11 minutes remaining in the first half when freshman Morgan Manalili earned a penalty in the box drawing contact from the PLNU goalkeeper.
 
Diaz stepped up to the spot and drilled the ball past PLNU freshman goalkeeper Julia Pinnell, who guessed correctly diving to her right, into the left corner for her 16th career goal and first of the season.
 
"Morgan did a great job drawing the penalty and Dayana scored a really nice goal," added Connell "Our players never wavered from the game plan and created some really nice chances in the first half. I thought Sophie (Bearden Croft) had one of her best games as a Viking as a dangerous weapon in may facets of the game."
 
PLNU looked to find the equalizer early in the second half when a shot in the 53rd minute skidded untouched across the face of the goalmouth until Asia Hardin cleared it off the line. Another Sea Lion chance came up short in the 63rd minute with Karina Provo blocking a shot with a header from Olivia Shaw well inside the box.
 
The Sea Lions drew even in the 75th minute on a strong right-footed shot from the edge of the 18-yard box by Bethany Arabe. PLNU put themselves into scoring position with a long throw-in from deep in their territory, with Zoe Crockett feeing a ball to Arabe, who took one touch and beat WWU goalkeeper Claire Henninger with her shot inside the far (right) post.
 
Point Loma held a 15-9 advantage in total shots, including an 11-4 edge in the second half. Each team won six corner kicks while the Sea Lions had six shots on frame compared to the Vikings four.
 
WWU junior goalkeeper Claire Henninger made five saves while playing the full 90 in net. Hardin, junior Katie Watt and senior Tera Ziemer all played key roles on defense while playing all 90 minutes.

W⚽️ | Watch senior co-captain Dayana Diaz drill her PK in the 33rd minute to give @WWU_WSoccer a 1-0 first-half lead on the road over Point Loma. pic.twitter.com/9t1EKzmOAV

— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) September 7, 2022

 

Western Washington 1, #13 Point Loma 1
Date: September 6, 2022
Field: PLNU Soccer Field   Site: San Diego, CA
Attendance: 167

Goals by period              1  2    Tot
-----------------------------------------
Western Washington.........  1  0  -  1
Point Loma.................  0  1  -  1

SCORING SUMMARY:
1.      32:45     WWU     Diaz (PK)
2.      74:53     PLNU    Arabe (Crockett)

Shots: PLNU 15, WWU 9
Shots on Goal: PLNU 6, WWU 4
Saves: WWU 5 (Henninger – 5), PLNU 3 (Pinnell – 3)
Corners: WWU 6, PLNU 6
Fouls: PLNU 12, WWU 8
Offsides: WWU 6, PLNU 2
Kits: WWU (White), PLNU (Green)

  The Vikings (1-1-2) return home for their final non-conference game of the season hosting Colorado School of Mines on Sunday at Harrington Field with kickoff at 12:30 pm. WWU opens the 14-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule hosting Simon Fraser University on Thursday, September 15 at Harrington Field (7 pm). The complete 2022 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/22_WSOC.