Western junior forward Lucy Miller fights with Saint Martin's sophomore defender Cayla Dixon for the ball in the second overtime of the Vikings' 1-1 tie with Saint Martin's University Thursday at Orca Field. Photo by Jon Bergman.
The Western women’s soccer team tied Saint Martin’s University 1-1 on Thursday at Whatcom Community College’s Orca Field.
The tie continues the Vikings' 14-game unbeaten streak.
The last unbeaten streak consisted of 38 games in a row, which took place from 1982 to 1984.
With an overall record of 15-2-2 and 9-0-2 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Vikings are ranked 15th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Coaches Poll and first in the Far West Region.
Saint Martin’s sophomore forward Jill Jensen scored the first goal of the game.
The ball went back and forth throughout the night, and in the 76th minute, Western junior midfielder Kelly Irving scored from twelve yards out, after receiving a cross from Western freshman defender Alicia Patten.
Irving and Western senior defender Katie Warner said they did not feel the Vikings played their strongest.
“We had a good offense reacting in the first half [of the game],” Irving said. “There was lots of anticipating in the second half and we just couldn’t finish.”
Warner said the defense needed to push the ball more.
The Vikings tried to score twice in the last five minutes of the game – a shot from eight yards out by Western junior defender Kasey Hostetler and a shot by Western sophomore forward Molly Shannon, which were both blocked by Saint Martin’s freshman goalkeeper Ashley Engel.
Engel had seven saves in overtime.
Saint Martin’s record is 6-10-2 and 4-6-2 in the conference.
“We had a good battle,” Saint Martin’s assistant coach Bre Giove said. “We came in knowing we were the underdogs and we rallied.”
Warner said she thinks this game will help the Vikings know what needs to be fixed in order to play at the end of the season.
“This is a good time to get our heads in the game right before playoffs,” Warner said.
Western plays its final game of the regular season against Western Oregon University at 1 p.m. Nov. 8 at Orca Field.
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