• Final Stats     |     • VIDEO: Josie Graybeal

 
The second-seeded Vikings (18-1-1) advance to the West Regional championship game and will host Cal State San Bernardino.
 
"I take my hat off to Western Washington University. That is a very good team and they are really good at what they do," said SPU coach Chuck Sekyra. "I give them all the credit in the world and I wish them all the best. That's a good soccer team."
 
The Falcons, who made their 11th consecutive postseason appearance, finished the season with a 15-6-1 record.
 


On Thursday, SPU notched a 1-0 first-round victory over 17th-ranked and No. 3 seeded Sonoma State to become the only No. 6 seed to advance in this year's playoffs. WWU had a first-round bye.
 
The Vikings controlled the early run of play, outshooting the visitors 7-1 leading up to the opening goal.
 
Western's Kristin Maris fired a shot that was deflected by goalkeeper Natalie Harold. Elise Aylward gathered the rebound in the center of the box before dropping a pass back to Hamilton who quickly delivered a 14-yard blast into the right side of the goal at 31:06.
 
The score remained 1-0 into halftime as the Vikings compiled a 9-3 shot margin in the first half.
 
The Falcons were more forceful in the second half and attempted twice as many shots as in the first as a result. Their first shot came just 1:10 into the period as sophomore Laura Moore's header carried just wide of the post.
 
SPU's best opportunity to level the score came in the 68th minute when a low, 17-yard shot by Ashley Shaw forced Vikings goalkeeper Alyssa Beauchamp to make a diving save at the left post.

Harold stopped five shots for the Falcons and Beauchamp was credited with four saves en route to her eighth shutout.
 
A formation change at halftime was the catalyst for the Falcons improved attack according to Sekyra.
 
"We went to a 4-3-3 and tried to get more numbers in the attack and have more offense going forward and we certainly did. It was the right thing to do and the girls responded to it just like they have all year to whatever I asked of them."
 
Western netted an insurance goal with 1:54 left to play when Anna Geldenhuys finished from seven yards out off assists from Aylward and Kristin Maris.
 
 "Those last two minutes were the first time in the four games I've been able to relax," WWU coach Travis Connell said.
 
"We have a lot of respect for SPU as an opponent. They've been in the tournament more than anyone else in our conference, and it takes a complete effort to beat them."
 
Saturday marked the fourth meeting this season between the Great Northwest Athletic Conference rivals. The Vikings won both regular-season encounters by the same 2-1 score to finish atop the final league standings.
 
They battled to a 1-1 overtime draw last Saturday in Tukwila, Wash. before SPU captured the GNAC Tournament championship by virtue of a 4-1 advantage over Western in the penalty-kick tiebreaker.
 
Mere minutes after the loss, Sekyra was already looking ahead to next year.
 
"We have a lot of great players back and hopefully we can sit in the spot next year where we have a chance host the NCAAs and watch a game on Thursday and play the winner on Saturday."
 
The Falcons will need to fill the void left in goal by Harold, but just one other regular starter leaves. Only one of the team's 39 goals was scored by a departing senior.
 
Along with Harold three other seniors played their final game in an SPU uniform. Defenders Josie Graybeal and Stephanie Harold completed their collegiate careers as did forward Kaylie Winston.
 
"I'm really proud of my seniors. For them to go out and not just get an NCAA Tournament win, but have a GNAC championship under their belts as seniors walking out of here really makes me proud."
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Division II Tournament – Second Round
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Orca Field / Bellingham, Wash.
 
at (#9) Western Washington 2, Seattle Pacific 0
 
Scoring – 1, WWU, Stephanie Hamilton (Elise Aylward), 31:06; 2, WWU, Anna Geldenhuys (Kristin Maris, Aylward), 88:06.
 
Shots – SPU 9, WWU 17.
Saves – SPU 5 (Natalie Harold), WWU 4 (Alyssa Beauchamp).
Corner Kicks – SPU 3, WWU 4.
Fouls – SPU 4, WWU 9.
Offsides – SPU 1, WWU 3.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 15-6-1
Western Washington 18-1-1