PORTLAND, Ore. – Western Washington University junior forward Gabriela Pelogi scored the golden goal with just over six minutes remaining in the second overtime to give the No. 2-seed Vikings a 1-0 victory over No. 1-seed Concordia Saturday afternoon at Tuominen Yard to win a third consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships title.
The victory improved WWU to 17-1-0 on the season, avenging a 2-0 loss last Saturday to Concordia snapping a 39-game winning streak. Receiving the GNAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Championships, the nationally 12th-ranked Vikings will be defending their 2016 NCAA II National Championship as they head into the field of 48 for the sixth consecutive season. The team will find out if they will host the first and second rounds of the tournament during Monday’s selection show at 3 pm PT on NCAA.com.
“I am extremely proud of this team for how they responded and put forth a championship performance today,” said head coach Travis Connell, who has led the Vikings to the GNAC Championships all seven seasons of the tournament. “Our players have so many expectations put on them, and they were so in character and poised today. They continued to believe in the process and execute, and it looked like an experienced playoff team. We have good leaders, quality experienced players and some really talented younger players that all contributed to this victory.”
The defensive battle brought the game to a second overtime, and with just over six minutes remaining before a penalty kick shootout would decide the conference title, Pelogi (Federal Way, WA) drilled home the game-winner late in the 104th minute for her conference leading 15th goal of the season. Pelogi’s golden goal came off a rebounded shot taken by senior midfielder Emily Webster (Bellingham, WA/Sehome) from 16-yards out in the left side of the box. Concordia goalkeeper Anna Miller blocked Webster’s shot, but the rebound found the feet of Pelogi, who scored from 6-yards out to the lower left side. Pelogi has scored the game-winning goal in each of the three consecutive GNAC Championships.
“We knew there were going to be some rebounds to be had if we kept pressing and creating chances,” said Connell on the game-winning goal. “We practice that throw-in play every day, and (Emily) Webster made a very veteran play with her shot on goal, and Gabi does what she usually does, putting the ball in back of the net.”
The Vikings had a 21-10 advantage in shots in the game, led by 8 shots by junior forward Karli White (North Bend, WA/Mount Si/Seattle U.). The GNAC Newcomer of the Year created pressure all game with 4 shots on goal, including a great scoring chance late in the first overtime. White scored the game-winning goal in the semifinal 2-0 win over Seattle Pacific, and was named the GNAC Championships MVP, an award won last season by Pelogi.
The Vikings completely dominated the run of play in the first half, spending much of the first 45 minutes on Concordia’s side of the field and out-shooting the Cavaliers 9-0. WWU had a pair of shots on goal that were saved by First Team All-GNAC goalie Miller. White generated an early shot on frame just 2:57 into the game and Miller denied another shot by White in the 17th minute. Pelogi created space in the box in the 13th minute, but fired her shot wide left in what was possibly the Vikings best scoring chance of the half.
“It was a great battle, against a team that was playing at home and riding a hot streak, but I was very impressed with our start and felt like it set the tone for the rest of the game,” said 16th-year head coach Travis Connell. “We had energy and created a lot of chances early, just got a little unlucky to not score in the first half.”
The second 45 minutes was a bit more back-and-forth, with both teams generating 7 shots. WWU senior goalkeeper Ashley Homer (Puyallup, WA) made one save, and Miller had two more saves on shots by White in the second half.
“They made some adjustments in the second half and stiffened up, and it was really good playoff soccer with both teams fighting hard for that first score,” added Connell.
White nearly put home the game-winner late in the first overtime, when her sliding left-footed shot went just over the crossbar with 1:14 left on the clock.
After winning the GNAC regular-season championship with an 11-0-1 mark, Concordia had its 12-game winning streak and 14-game unbeaten streak snapped with its first loss since Sept. 8 at Hawai’i-Hilo, dropping to 15-3-1 overall. Miller ended up making 5 saves in the game, but had her string of seven consecutive games without allowing a goal snapped.
The NCAA Division II Championships selection show will air Monday at 3 pm PT on NCAA.com. The top six teams in the West Region will be split into two sub regionals, with play starting next week in to determined campus sites. WWU has been ranked No. 3 in each of the three NCAA II West Regional rankings, and have a string of four consecutive seasons hosting the first and second round.
“We are excited about what challenges lie ahead and overall I am just really impressed with out the team performed,” said Connell. “This was a new challenge for them, going on the road as the No. 2 seed and playing on their home field, and they were as determined and focused as I have seen them.”
Game Notes: WWU improved to 12-0-0 on the road this season, and extended the road undefeated streak to 24 consecutive games (23-game winning streak)…WWU is now 10-0-2 all-time in GNAC Championships play, and a four-time champion of the tournament that debuted in 2012…WWU has won three consecutive GNAC Championships (2015-17) and overall had four championships titles (also 2012)…Emily Webster appeared in her 88th career game (every game of her WWU career), tied for 3rd-most in WWU history…Webster also recorded an assist for the second straight game, giving her 24 in her career (5th in WWU history, T12th in GNAC history)…Pelogi’s 15 goals are tied for 6th-most in a season in WWU history, and most since Catherine Miles also had 15 in 2013…36 points are tied for 6th-most in the WWU single-season record book…Ashley Homer logged her 10th shutout of the season and 24th of her WWU career…WWU earned its 13th shutout victory of the season.
— @WWU_WSoccer —
