With the win and a loss by West Virginia, Seattle U now has the longest unbeaten streak in the nation with 16 consecutive wins or draws.
“It’s really exciting to be heading to our third straight title game,” said head coach Julie Woodward. “Each year, our conference gets better and better and the teams get stronger and stronger. I thought tonight was a very competitive match with CSU Bakersfield; [CSUB head coach] Gary [Curneen] has done a great job with the program and he has some talented athletes. I’m happy we were able to get the win and move on to Sunday’s championship.”
Kiana Kraft (Kent, Wash.) broke through in the 39th minute off a ball played from Julia Moravec (Spokane, Wash.) from five yards outside the goal to give the Redhawks a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Moravec would find the back of the net in the 84th minute for the insurance goal on one touches from Hope Fleckner (Tacoma, Wash.) and Summer Mason (Carlsbad, Calif.) for the final margin of victory.
With the assist, Moravec moved into a tie for second in Seattle U’s Division I single season record book, one shy of the record (Stephanie Verdoia, 13, 2014).
“Julia [Moravec] has been so consistent for us – her presence on the field and her senior leadership has been invaluable to the program and it’s fun to see her producing on top of that.”
In goal, Brianna Smallidge (Port Orchard, Wash.) earned the team’s 13th shutout of the season, her 12th complete shutout of the year, with one save. Tori Ornela made six saves for the Roadrunners.
Eight different Redhawks contributed to the shot tally as Seattle U outshot CSUB, 15-2, including 8-1 on frame. Kraft and Karli White (North Bend, Wash.) led the Redhawks with three shots apiece.
“We’ve had two really great competitive games versus Utah Valley and they have some talented athletes,” Woodward concludes. “[Utah Valley head coach] Brent [Anderson] is a great coach, he’s done a really great job with their program, and I expect for it to be a competitive game.”
Seattle U will face Utah Valley on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. PT, a match which will be broadcast for free on the WAC Digital Network online (www.wacsports.com/live) and on the WAC Digital Network app. The winner of Sunday’s game will receive the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, which Seattle U looks to pick up for the third straight season.