"I thought it was a good game for us," said head coach Julie Woodward. "I was excited to get back on the field after not having a great weekend last week. I am really am happy that we got the shutout and feel much better about our ability to keep the ball and possess today. I thought we scored some great goals."
Cleveland State earned possession early, but the Redhawk defense prevented the Vikings from getting a solid shot opportunity off. Instead goalkeeper Madison Goverde (Snohomish, Wash.) was able to receive the ball and boot it into the CSU half of the field to a sprinting Levy. She received the ball and beat out a defender to shoot in her second goal of the year past the diving Cleveland State goalkeeper Kelly Zinkiewich in the second minute of action. The long ball assist was the first of Goverde's collegiate career.
Behind their early 1-0 advantage, the Redhawks garnered more offensive momentum and kept the ball solely around the Cleveland State goal. They fired off seven shots during the next nine minute span, including Levy's second goal of the game at the 10:37 minute mark. Senior Kara Kuttler (Redmond, Wash.) crossed the ball to Levy, who danced around a pair of defenders to knock in a solid straight on shot from three yards out.
The Redhawks only allowed Cleveland State one shot in the contest, which Nikki Bevilacqua sent in on target; however Goverde was able to easily get her gloves on it to maintain her clean sheet. On the other end of the field, Seattle U bombarded the Viking goal. They took 19 shots in the first half, including five on target. Kuttler, Levy and redshirt freshman Heather Thomas (Woodinville, Wash.) all had additional shots on goal, but were unable to extend the Redhawks 2-0 lead.
In the second half, Seattle U maintained possession of the ball for a majority of the half. They set the tempo of the game and once again drilled in crosses and shots onto CSU's 'keeper Zinkiewich. Behind nine total shots from Kuttler, to lead the team, SU posted 36 total shots in the contest. They had 10 on frame, with Kuttler tallying a pair and Levy shooting three on goal.
As the clock ticked down, the newcomer Hill took possession of the ball near the midfield line. She knocked down a deflection, dribbled the ball towards the goal and then sent in a clear shot from about 30 yards out in the 86th minute. It was the outside defender's first career goal.
Hill's goal was the icing on a solid all-around game for the Redhawks. She played alongside older sister Nance Hill (Mercer Island, Wash.) and Jordan Salisbury (Federal Way, Wash.) for the entire contest in the backline. Classmate Monique Escalera (Riverside, Calif.) and junior Renee Vandermause (Colbert, Wash.) also split time at outside defender, with the five defenders helping SU earn their third shutout of the season.
SU has a big weekend coming up, as they host the Redhawk Invitational. Seattle U will open with Idaho on Friday, Sept. 24, at 1 p.m. and conclude the tournament with Sacramento State on Sunday, Sept. 26, in a 1:30 p.m. match up. Also participating in the tournament is Cal State Bakersfield.