SEATTLE - (Oct. 22) A shutout victory on Senior Night and a clinching of a fourth straight Western Athletic Conference regular season title concluded Seattle University women’s soccer’s final appearance on Championship Field this fall as the Redhawks won, 3-0, over visiting Chicago State.
The night began with a pregame ceremony honoring seniors Brie Hooks, Natasha Howe and Mariah O’Neil. It concluded with Howe scoring the final goal in her final home match and Seattle U moving to 6-0-0 in WAC play, clinching the title with 18 points. The Redhawks also move to 11-5-1 overall on the year.
“Tonight’s game was really about celebrating tour seniors,” said SU Head Coach Julie Woodward. “As a team we left with a little bit of frustration in terms of the chances we created and only finishing three of them. But I’m pleased that everyone played and everyone contributed and it was a great way to send our senior off.”
Seattle U finished with 28 total shots, including 10 on frame. Hooks had six shots while Howe and Karli White each had five shots in the game.
White got the Redhawks on the board early, tallying her fifth goal of the season just inside the 10-minute mark. Howe set up the play by working her way through the Cougar defense on the left sideline, opening up a lane to send a ball into White. The sophomore striker one touched a shot into the net from near the six-yard line.
Less than three minutes later, Isabelle Butterfield doubled Seattle U’s lead, scoring a quick goal from inside the box following great combination passing from Hooks and Rosalie Sittauer.
The score remained at 2-0 until late in the match. Just inside the 84th minute mark, Howe corralled the ball near the top of the box, broke through the Chicago State defense and beat goalkeeper Audra Wisehart low into the far post for her third goal of the season.
Seattle U wraps up the WAC regular-season slate on Friday, Oct. 28 at Utah Valley. The WAC Championship Tournament begins Thursday, Nov. 3 in Kansas City, Mo., with UMKC serving as the host.