Western Washington Vikings capture regular-season GNAC championship

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Forward Catherine Miles (Fr., Anacortes) scored her seventh goal of the season in the 71st minute as nationally ranked Western Washington University blanked Central Washington University, 1-0, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s soccer contest Thursday afternoon at Orca Field on the Whatcom CC campus.

The Vikings, ranked No.14 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America/NCAA Division II Top 25, extended their school-record scoreless stretch to 900 minutes and 15 seconds.

WWU improved to 15-2-0 overall and clinched the regular-season GNAC crown at 12-1-0.

It was the 10th straight win for the Vikings, all of them shutouts. During that stretch, WWU has outscored its opponents 24-0, and has a 38-4 goal differential this season.

Central, which had a two-game winning streak snapped, fell to 5-10-2 overall and 4-8-1 in league play.
Miles scored the game’s only goal when she stole a back pass to the goalkeeper and put a shot inside the far post.

WWU had an 18-2 shot advantage.

“We had to work really hard for this victory,” said WWU head coach Travis Connell (10th year, 117-57-19). “I’m very proud of our players and happy for them. They deserved this victory and winning the conference championship.”

Vikings’ goalkeeper Jamie Arthurs (Sr., Richland) made one save in her school and league record 14th shutout of the season, extending her WWU and GNAC records for career whitewashes to 37.

The win also extended the Vikings’ string of consecutive home shutouts to 14, seven of them this season during which they have outscored the opposition, 21-0. WWU has lost just once (15-1-4) in its last 20 matches at Orca Field, 18 of the wins or ties being whitewashes.

The Vikings close out their regular season by hosting Seattle Pacific in a GNAC contest on Saturday (4 p.m.). It will be Senior Day with goalkeeper Jamie Arthurs (Richland) and midfielder Joana Houplin (Olympia) being honored.

Vikings players enjoy a fan-made sign at a recent match. Western has clinched the 2012 GNAC Conference crown. (Facebook)

Thursday, October 25, 2012
Orca Field/Whatcom CC/Bellingham, WA

Western Washington 1, Central Washington 0

Scoring – 1. WWU, Catherine Miles (Unassisted), 70:03.
Saves – WWU 1 (Jamie Arthurs 1), CWU 5 (Kayla Lipston 5).
Corner kicks – WWU 3, CWU 3.
Fouls – WWU 7, CWU 10.

Records:
Western Washington 15-2-0, 12-1-0 GNAC
Central Washington 5-10-2, 4-8-1 GNAC

Next Game:
Western Washington hosts Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m., Bellingham, Wash. (Orca Field, Whatcom CC campus)

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