Sunday, November 24, 2013

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - A goal from Western Washington leading scorer Catherine Miles in the sixth minute proved to be the game winner as the Vikings defeated visiting St. Edward's 2-0 in an NCAA DII women's soccer quarterfinal match Sunday afternoon on the campus of Whatcom Community College.

Miles tallied her 15th goal of the season, receiving a feed from Kristin Maris after Brina Sych carried the ball up the sideline into the offensive third.

Disaster struck for St. Edward's in the final minute of the first half, as an own goal turned a surmountable 1-0 WWU advantage into a solid 2-0 edge after the first 45 minutes. The Vikings outshot the Hilltoppers in the first half 6-3, holding a 4-1 advantage in shots on target as well. WWU goalkeeper Alyssa Beachamp handled the only St. Edward's shot on target of the first half.

St. Edward's pushed forward to begin the second half, as WWU shifted into a defensive formation to protect its two-goal advantage.

The Vikings (20-1-1) created seveeral scoring opportunities with a pair of corner kicks followed by a throw in. Only a save from St. Edward's goalkeeper Lorrie Santoy prevented a goal, and WWU earned yet another corner kick. A header shot by Delanee Nilles sailed wide as the Hilltoppers escaped the rapid string of shots without harm.

Beauchamp made two saves in the course of one minute in the middle of the second half, but St. Edward's failed to generate any consistent offensive momentum throughout the final 45 minutes of play. The Vikings closed out the game with pressure throughout the waning minutes as shots by Stephanie Hamilton and Anna Geldenhuys kept St. Edward's on its toes.

WWU remained perfect at home with a 12-0-0 mark this season. St. Edward's (18-1-3), was handed its first loss of 2013.

WWU will advance to face West Florida in the DII semifinals in Evans, Ga., on Dec. 5.