BOX SCORE
SEATTLE - (Oct. 7) A late goal by Natasha Howe lifted Seattle University women’s soccer to a 1-0 victory over a gritty Grand Canyon side Friday night at Championship Field as both teams opened Western Athletic Conference play.
The win was the fourth in the last five outings for the Redhawks, who improve to 6-5-1 overall and 1-0-0 in WAC play. Grand Canyon dropped to 4-8-0 overall and 0-1-0 in the WAC.
Howe became the fifth Redhawk to tally a goal this season, breaking the scoreless tie in the 85th minute. The senior midfielder found herself in perfect position in the middle of the box on an SU attack. Isabelle Butterfield worked her way to the endline on the right side and slipped a pass across the goal where Howe one touched it into the left corner netting.
“It’s exciting to start conference play with three points, especially when we didn’t have one of our best games,” said SU Head Coach Julie Woodward. “Grand Canyon played a hard, physical game that took us our of our flow, but I was proud of how we stuck with it right until the end. Natasha had a great game for us tonight and a great goal.”
The Lopes were called for 18 fouls on the night while Seattle U was whistled for eight. Each side also picked up one yellow card.
Ashley Routh and Mackenzie Curry split time in goal for the second straight game, each making a pair of saves in the team’s sixth shutout of the season.
WAC play continues Sunday as the Redhawks travel to face CSU Bakersfield at 1 p.m.