“It’s fun to end your regular season homestand with that sort of game,” said head coach Julie Woodward. “Today we placed a big emphasis on the soccer piece but everyone was playing for the program, their teammates, and the seniors especially, who have gotten us where we are today. It was a great way to reward them, it was a good team win, and it’s one of those days you’re just happy as a coach.”
Jacqui Wallis (Lake Oswego, Ore.) would score the game-winner just 37 seconds into the match on assists by Stephanie Verdoia (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Taylor Ritzman (Holladay, Utah) and the Redhawks would take a 4-0 lead just 15 minutes in.
Seattle U would take a 7-0 lead into halftime as they added a trio of goals within a four minute span starting in the 34th minute. Verdoia’s goal in the 34th minute, assisted by Ritzman, set the program’s new career high in total goals.
The Redhawks would continue the offensive pressure in the second half, tacking on four more, all within a 10 minute span beginning with the 54th minute.
In the 56th minute, Alyssa Campagna (Las Vegas, Nev.) scored her first career goal on a header off a corner kick by Stephanie Spiekerman (Seattle, Wash.).
In goal, Aris Coover (Bellevue, Wash.) earned her first career start, as well as the complete game shutout, making two saves. Three different Cougar goalkeepers saw time in the box as Gabby Klemp made the start.
Prior to the match, this year’s senior class – Coover, Ritzman, Renae Russell (Lake Forest, Calif.), Campagna, Wallis, Verdoia, and Kiana Kraft (Kent, Wash.) – was honored. Russell also earned her first career start in the match.
Verdoia, now with 47 career goals to set the Seattle U record, also set a new program career record for points, now with 122 total career points, tying her single season high with eight today. She also recorded her second career hat trick, leading the Redhawks with a trio of goals.
“It was fun being out here with all the seniors,” said Verdoia, “and the win for the team was a big deal. We played really good soccer and Chicago State fought hard so it was a good all-around game for both teams.”
Seattle U will close the regular season at Utah Valley on Saturday, Nov.1 at 11 a.m. before returning to the Emerald City to host the Western Athletic Conference tournament on Nov. 6-7, 9.
All-session tickets for the men’s and women’s WAC tournaments at Championship Field are now on sale by calling (206) 398-GOSU(4678) or by visiting www.goseattleu.com/sutickets.
Fans are also encouraged to vote for Verdoia for the Senior CLASS Award once per day per device at www.seniorCLASSaward.com. Fan voting will count for 1/3 of the final tally towards the winner, which will be announced in Dec. 2014 as part of the 2014 Men’s and Women’s College Cup.