Box Score    |    Final Stats

SEATTLE – Top-ranked Western Washington tallied two of its goals from the penalty spot, including Elise Aylward's opening strike 14 minutes into Thursday's 4-0 win over Seattle Pacific in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer game at Interbay Stadium.
 
The Falcons (8-3-3) had a five-game unbeaten streak halted while their league record fell to 5-2-2.
 
Western (14-0-1) ran its winning streak to 14 games and remained perfect in GNAC games with a 9-0-0 record. The Vikings have not lost in their last 12 meetings in the series with their Northwest rival, compiling a 9-0-3 record dating back to SPU's last win in 2012.
 
The early action was frenetic as the teams combined for five shots during the opening six minutes. SPU's best scoring chance came just 45 seconds into the contest when league-leading scorer Hannah Huesers broke free on the right side and lofted a shot from the edge of the box. Her attempt sailed just wide of the left post.
 
"It was an exciting start. It was back-and-forth, back-and-forth," said SPU coach Arby Busey. "I like the opportunity we created early. We would have liked to have had that first one. If that falls, we're playing a different game."
 
The Vikings responded with three shots in succession before the pace slowed. They eventually got on the board at 13:38 after Caitlyn Jobanek was fouled in the left side of the box. Aylward converted the ensuing penalty kick into the lower left corner for her sixth goal of the season.
 
A set piece initiated the second WWU score as Emily Nelson finished from the goalmouth on a corner kick from Emily Webster at 41:38 to set the halftime score at 2-0 in the visitor's favor.
 
In the second half Jobanek again was fouled in the box, at 60:59, and this time she stepped up to the 12-yard spot. Jobanek banged the shot in off the right post for her seventh score and a 3-0 Vikings lead.
 
"It's tough to play a team as good as they are and have two penalties. That's a tall, tall hill to climb if that's what is going to happen," Busey said. "Fair play to them, they earned them, they created them and they tucked them away when given the opportunity."
 
Peyton Chick capped the scoring at 63:50 on an unassisted strike from 18 yards out.
 
SPU had a chance to get on the board in the 84th minute when Western was whistled for a hand ball in the box. Kaytlin Willis sent her free shot wide to the goal.
 
Starting goalkeeper Molly Stinson compiled six of her eight saves during the opening half for SPU. She played 72 minutes before giving way to Abby Smith, who stopped two shots in 18 minutes.
 
Ashley Homer made three saves en route to her 10th shutout for the Vikings, who registered a 29-8 shot advantage.

 

Coach Busey wants his Falcons put this setback behind them for now and set their sights on sending some special teammates out in style on Saturday.
 
"It's one of those where we have a quick turnaround with a night game to an afternoon start. We go out on Saturday and honor our seniors, players who have really invested four and five years, in some cases, with us and created something here that's pretty special.
 
"We turn our focus to honoring those guys and we can circle back around and look at this one later on. But that's got to be first and foremost in our minds, coming back out and getting this taste out of our mouth and really getting back to playing the way that we're capable of playing on Saturday."
 
The Falcons play their final home game on Saturday against Montana State Billings. Kick-off is 1 p.m. and there will be a brief ceremony prior to the game to honor the six SPU seniors who will play their final game at Interbay Stadium.
 
The departing class is comprised of Haley Ayers, Kelly Gould, Hannah Huesers, Maddie Krauss and Hannah Lemm along with fifth-year senior Emma Holm.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER
Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.
 
(#1) Western Washington 4, at Seattle Pacific 0
 
                     1   2  --  TOTAL
Western Washington   2   2  --    4
Seattle Pacific      0   0  --    0
 
Scoring – 1, WWU, Elise Aylward (PK), 13:38; 2, WWU, Emily Nelson (Emily Webster), 41:38; 3, WWU, Caitlyn Jobanek (PK), 60:59; 4, WWU, Peyton Chick, 63:50.
 
Shots – WWU 29, SPU 8.
Saves – WWU 3 (Ashley Homer), SPU 10 (Molly Stinson 8, Abby Smith 2).
Corner Kicks – WWU 12, SPU 2.
Fouls – WWU 9, SPU 9.
Offsides – WWU 4, SPU 1.
 
Records
Seattle Pacific 8-3-3, 5-2-2 GNAC
Western Washington 14-0-1, 9-0-0 GNAC
 
Next SPU Women's Game
Montana State Billings at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Oct. 23, 1:00 p.m.
Interbay Stadium / Seattle, Wash.