“I was really happy with the team today and I think we’re getting better every game,” said head coach Julie Woodward. “With every game that we don’t get a result we want, I think we really learn from it and I think we apply the things we need to get better at to the next game. This team is really coachable and really resilient. It was wonderful to see goals from two freshmen today and I think that’s a great indication that we’re young but our growth each game is tremendous. We’re looking forward to a one game weekend next week as we’re now on the road for about a month.”
Just under 17 minutes into the match, Summer Mason (Carlsbad, Calif.) scored her first career goal off her own blocked shot, with the long shot from the far left side of the box, which would prove to be the offensive spark the Redhawks needed.
Karli White (North Bend, Wash.) would add to the Redhawks’ tally four minutes later off one touches from Kiana Kraft (Kent, Wash.) and Julia Moravec (Spokane, Wash.). In the 38th minute, Seattle U would increase their lead to 3-0 on a header from Moravec off an assist from Hannah Carrothers (Delta, B.C.).
Vanderbilt prevented the shutout with a Seattle U own goal in the 87th minute off their own blocked shot to make 3-1 the final score.
Carrothers led all Redhawks with five shots, two o frame, while Mason added three and Moravec contributed two. For the Commodores, Lydia Simmons led with a team-high five shots.
In goal, Brianna Smallidge (Port Orchard, Wash.) played all 90 minutes for Seattle U, making five saves. Vanderbilt played two different keepers in Christiana Ogunsami, recording one save in the first half, and Shannon Morrish, who made two saves in the second half.
The Redhawks led the shot overall shot tally, 14-9, also earning six corners to Vanderbilt’s five.
With the win, Woodward is now just one win away from her 250th career win in her 19th season at the helm of the Redhawks.
Seattle U will now hit the road for seven straight matches starting with Gonzaga in Spokane on Friday, Sept. 4. The Redhawks return home after starting Western Athletic Conference play to host the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (formerly UTPA) on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
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