Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – An early offensive explosion from Western Washington proved insurmountable for Seattle Pacific on Saturday night, as the second-ranked Vikings beat the No. 19 Falcons in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer game at Harrington Field, 3-1.
 
Although SPU (9-3-1, 5-3-1 GNAC) ultimately finished with a 15-13 edge in total shots, the Vikings (13-1-0, 8-0-0 GNAC) put eight of theirs directly on goal. The Falcons had just three shots on goal, including one by junior forward Hannah Huesers (Lake Stevens HS) that found the back of the net in the 80th minute.
 
Seattle Pacific surrendered two goals in the opening 20 minutes of play.
 
In the ninth minute, Western forward Elise Aylward received a high chip pass while running toward the top right corner of the 6-yard box. Though the pass was somewhat wayward, Aylward was able to gain inside positioning on SPU defender Shayla Page. Aylward sent a hard pass to midfielder Caitlyn Jobanek, who drilled the ball into the bottom right corner.
 
Just 11 minutes later, Western Washington made it 2-0. Forward Catherine Miles dribbled the ball far down the left side, near the end line, and delivered a high cross toward Jobanek, who was streaking uncovered down the middle of the field. Before SPU's defense could recover, Jobanek scored her second goal of the night, placing the ball in the lower left corner just beyond the reach of Falcons goalkeeper Molly Stinson. Jobanek entered the game with only one goal to her credit.
 
"We got put behind the 8-ball early, then ended up having to chase from the start," said SPU interim coach Arby Busey. "That's tough to against a team the quality that Western has.
 
"They banged in a couple early goals on us. We're playing from behind the rest of the way. We fought hard. I really liked the effort that we put forth, but we built a hill that was too tall to climb."
 
The Vikings added to their lead at the beginning of the second half. A long cross from forward Erin Russell twisted unexpectedly in the air, dipping just under the crossbar and over the outstretched hand of Stinson in the 48th minute.
 
Huesers put the Falcons on the board with a noteworthy display of skill. After getting the in the SPU defensive half, Huesers knifed 30 yards through Western's defense, finishing her play with a 20-yard strike to the upper left corner of the net. It was her league-leading11th of the season. She led all GNAC scorers with 15 goals in 2014.
 
"She's so strong and a powerful individual," Busey described. "Hannah picked it up at midfield, just went on a run by herself dribbling it. I think she ended up shrugging off a few guys on her way to goal, and took the finish really well. She traveled with the ball on her foot 50-60 yards before depositing it into the net."
 
Huesers had a near miss in the 27th minute with a shot that sailed just high of the goal. Senior forward Laura Moore (Kentwood HS) had a booming 35-yarder that ricocheted off the crossbar.
 
The Vikings swept the regular-season series, including a 1-0 win on Oct. 1 in Seattle.

 

Stinson (Woodinville HS) compiled five saves for the visitors.
 
Ashley Haden played the first 76 minutes in goal for WWU before yielding to Miranda Head. They each recorded one save.
 
"We got served a pretty great slide of humble pie tonight," Busey concluded. "My hope is we can be better for it. The opportunity for postseason is still something that we're working toward.
 
"All of our focus goes to Central Washington on Thursday and another one on the road. We'll do everything we can between now and that game to get prepared and get ready for another one that will be difficult for us."
 
The SPU women complete a four-game road trip against Central Washington on Thursday at 3 p.m. in Ellensburg. They return home to play their final three regular-season games at Interbay Stadium, versus Saint Martin's on Oct. 24, Western Oregon on Oct. 29 and Carroll College on Oct. 31.
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015
Harrington Field / Bellingham, Wash.
 
(No. 2) Western Washington 3, (No. 19) Seattle Pacific 1
 
Scoring – 1, WWU, Caitlyn Jobanek (Elise Aylward), 8:18; 2, WWU, Jobanek (Catherine Miles), 18:46; 3, WWU, Erin Russell (unassisted), 49:00; 4, SPU, Hannah Huesers (unassisted), 79:19.
 
Shots – SPU 15, WWU 13.
Saves – SPU (Molly Stinson) 5, WWU (Ashley Haden 1, Miranda Head 1) 2.
Corner kicks – SPU 3, WWU 2.
Fouls – SPU 5, WWU 9.
Offsides – SPU 0, WWU 0.
Cautions – WWU: Chelsea Jackson.
Attendance – 685.


Records
Seattle Pacific 9-3-1, 5-3-1 GNAC.
Western Washington 13-1-0, 8-0-0 GNAC.
 
Next SPU Women's Game
(#19) Seattle Pacific at Central Washington
Thursday, Oct. 22, 3:00 p.m.
Central Washington University / Ellensburg,Wash.