Seattle U Extends Win Streak to Five with 2-0 Shutout over Portland State

A pair of second half goals helped guide the Seattle University women's soccer team to their fifth consecutive victory. The Redhawks (9-4) shutout the Portland State Vikings (4-7-1), 2-0, Sunday afternoon at Championship Field, on a day where the team donned pink jerseys in support of their "Kicks Against Breast Cancer" initiative and Seattle Sounders FC player Roger Levesque was on site to help raise money for Susan G. Komen For the Cure, Puget Sound.

After controlling the ball for much of the first half, Seattle U carried that momentum into the final half of regulation. In the 60th minute Mary Hill (Mercer Island, Wash.) dribbled the ball down the left side where she found classmate Monique Escalera (Riverside, Calif.) just outside the 18 yard box. Escalera then served it up to an oncoming Kara Kuttler (Redmond, Wash.), who slammed in the difference maker from 15 yards out. The goal was Kuttler's 24th of her career and her second consecutive goal in as many contests.

"I was pretty optimistic at halftime because I thought we did a good job keeping possession in the first half," said head coach Julie Woodward. "They are a good Portland State team, but I felt good about our opportunities and how we finished them in the second half. I am glad we got the shutout and I thought our defense played very well, especially Nance (Hill), who played awesome."

The Redhawk defense played well the entire game holding Portland State to only three shots in the game. Central defender Nance Hill (Mercer Island, Wash.) was solid all around for Seattle U. She made several great stops preventing Portland State advances and keeping the Vikings out of the SU box. The entire backline worked as a strong cohesive unit. Fellow central defender Jordan Salisbury (Federal Way, Wash.) helped orchestrate SU's fourth shutout of the season.

After scoring their go-ahead goal midway through the second half, SU continued to put pressure and attack the PSU goal. In the 89th minute Julia Besagno (Maple Valley, Wash.) served up her first career assist. The freshman midfielder sent in a through pass to fellow freshman Ava Ames (Seattle, Wash.). Ames sailed in a shot from just inside the 18 yard box towards the far post to add an insurance goal and seal the Redhawks fifth consecutive victory.

"It is nice to be riding a five game winning streak," commented Woodward. "Obviously we have been pretty good at home and we would like to take that momentum on the road with us. It is nice that we have a brief break so we can take a couple days off before heading onto our road swing strong."

Seattle U will next take to the field in Waco, Texas on Friday, Oct. 15. The Redhawks will square off with Baylor in a 5 p.m. PT match. Two days later, SU will head back to the West Coast to take on Cal Poly on Sunday, Oct. 17, at noon in San Luis Obispo, Calif.