LACEY, WA – (WWUVikings.com) The No. 2 Western Washington University Women’s Soccer team overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit to pull off a 3-2 comeback victory over Saint Martin’s Tuesday afternoon in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest.
Read the Saint Martin’s match report here.
Freshman forward Gabriela Pelogi (Federal Way, WA) scored a pair of second-half goals and senior forward Catherine Miles (Anacortes, WA) scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 79th-minute to give the Vikings the 3-2 victory.
The Vikings, ranked No. 2 for the second consecutive week in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, improved to 14-1-0 overall and perfect in the GNAC at 9-0-0. The Vikings have won 12 consecutive matches, matching the longest by the program over the last 30 seasons since a 38-match win streak from 1982-84 (also had a 12-match win streak in 2013).
“I am happy about the confidence, the character and the maturity the team showed after being down early,” said head coach Travis Connell. “They knew what had to be done and I barely had to say anything. They overcame, didn’t panic, went about it in a professional manner and just started chipping away at the lead.”
The Vikings allowed a pair of SMU goals within the first six minutes (2:16 by Sara Massee & 5:33 by Abby McFaul), and went into half trailing 2-0.
Pelogi single-handedly brought the Vikings back into the match with a pair of goals (53:26 & 58:00). The equalizer came on a corner kick from sophomore midfielderEmily Webster (Bellingham, WA/Sehome). Pelogi has scored in four of her last six matches, and is tied for second on the team with 6 goals (with Elise Aylward).
Miles scored the game-winner at 79:43, her team-leading 7th goal of the season and 4th game winner, and 39th career goal (5th-most in program history).
“The seniors – Catherine Miles and Savanna Moorehouse – were instrumental today in leading the team to overcome some obstacles,” added Connell. “And Gabby (Gabriela) Pelogi continues to really add a spark for us.”
The Vikings host Simon Fraser Thursday at Harrington Field on the WWU campus (7 pm).
SCORING SUMMARY:
- 2:16 SMU Massee,Sara (1) (Sarchett,Kylee) – 15 yards out shot bounces over gk head
- 5:33 SMU McFaul,Abby (4) (Petri,Gloria) – off of a corner headed into goal
- 53:26 WWU Pelogi,Gabriela (5) (Miles,Catherine) – passed up to shot upper right post
- 58:00 WWU Pelogi,Gabriela (6) (Webster,Emily) – off of corner kick, kicked into middle of goal
- 79:43 WWU Miles,Catherine (7) (Jobanek,Caitlyn) – passed up to shot over head of gk **there may be a potential assist change on this play**
Shots: Western Washington 20, Saint Martin’s 12
Saves: Western Washington 3 (Haden,Ashley 3), Saint Martin’s 8 (Still,Chelsie 8)
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