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POSTED: Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

WOMEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER: Vikings win, wait for at-large berth

Midfielder Kasey Hostetler scored one goal and assisted on another as Western Washington University defeated Montana State University Billings, 2-1, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer contest Saturday, Nov. 7, in Billings, Mont.

The Vikings, who extended their unbeaten streak to seven games (5-0-2), finished their regular season 11-4-4 overall and second in the GNAC standings at 8-1-3, despite having a victory and a tie in their two meetings with league champion Seattle Pacific.

MSUB ended its season 9-10-1 overall and 5-7-0 in league play.

Seattle Pacific, ranked No.17 nationally in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, finished 16-3-1 overall and first in the league at 9-2-1 to earn the GNAC's automatic berth in the NCAA II national tournament. The Falcons blanked Northwest Nazarene, 6-0, on Saturday, in their regular-season finale.

Western, No. 6 in this week's official NCAA Division II West Region rating, would probably need to climb one spot in the final poll to earn an at-large national berth. The selection show is Monday at 4 p.m. Pacific time, and can be seen via webcast on NCAA.com.

"It was a courageous performance," Western coach Travis Connell said in a press release. "(By the end of the game) we had three starters out with injuries, but we battled and still were able to put a good first half together and win the game.

"I'm really proud of the players. They've accomplished so much. In such a competitive conference that we have, to lose just one league game in two years is an amazing accomplishment. It's a real testament to their abilities."

The Vikings scored in the ninth minute, Hostetler beating a defender at midfield and playing a through ball to Molly Shannon, who scored from 18 yards. It was Shannon's team-leading seventh goal of the season.

In the 26th minute, Claire Morgan, posting up on the right side of the penalty area, turned her defender and made a pass to Hostetler, who found the net with a left-footed strike from 15 yards.

MSUB, which outshot the Vikings, 11-8, did not score until the final minute. Jaucelyn Richter scored her 11th goal, Samantha Boehm and Jennifer Larsen being credited with assists.