Friday, November 22, 2013

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Anna Geldenhuys set the tone for Western Washington with a goal in the first two minutes of the second half, as the Vikings did not concede a shot to Cal State San Bernardino through the final 45 minutes in a 1-0 Division II West Region playoff victory Friday evening on the campus of Whatcom Community College.

The Vikings (19-1-1) avenged a loss to UC San Diego in an overtime match during last season's West Region Finals. CSUSB ended its season with a record of 12-7-4.

CSUSB got off to a quick start, earning a corner kick within the first six minutes of play. Both of the Coyotes' ensuing shots were blocked, and WWU earned a corner kick of its own a minute later. Ashton Griffen sent in a cross that was struck by Katherine Miccile, forcing CSUSB goalkeeper Chelsey Jones to make her first save of the match.

Kristin Maris got her first look at goal in the 14th minute, but her shot was knocked down before threatening the Coyotes' goal. Maris launched two more attempts that were blocked by CSUSB defenders, before clanging her fourth shot in as many minutes off of the crossbar for a near goal.

Viking goalkeeper Alyssa Beauchamp denied a shot from CSUSB's Makayla Varner in the 39th minute, and saved another from Jasmine Bell a minute later to keep the game scoreless headed towards the break. Stephanie Hamilton, the hero from the Vikings' victory over Seattle Pacific in Round 2 of the playoffs, placed a shot on frame two minutes before the break that was saved by Jones.

The Vikings kicked off the second half with a bang, as Geldenhuys received a rebound off a shot from Jessica Bertucci that she slotted into the net in the 47th minute. Another Griffen corner kick found the foot of Brina Sych in the box, but the senior defender's shot was blocked by the Coyote back line.

CSUSB struggled to generate much offense against WWU through the middle of the second half, failing to take a shot for the first 30 minutes of play. WWU peppered the Coyotes' goal with a trio of shots that were blocked by defenders in the span of 12 seconds with less than 10 minutes to play.

Friday's match was delayed due to a penalty kick shootout between St. Edward's and Metro State, in the first West Region Finals match of the evening. St. Edwards prevailed, and will be the next challenger for WWU in a Division II Elite Eight match on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Bellingham.