Western’s women’s soccer team proved themselves once again, in a 3-1 victory against Seattle Pacific University on Saturday, Oct. 17.
The win followed senior night festivities for the Vikings, as it was the last home game of the regular season.
“We definitely came in prepared,” said junior forward and midfielder Caitlyn Jobanek, who scored her second and third goal of the season. “Our goal was to play as a team, step together and double team when we could. [The momentum] came from the back and just moved forward.”
Head coach Travis Connell credited the whole team with the victory, but singled out Jobanek, for her two goals in the first half.
“We were more energetic today, and [Jobanek] was a huge part of that,” Connell said.
The Vikings allowed what was the fifth goal all season. He attributes the above-average defensive performance to the team.
“We defend with 11 players every play and there’s not a lot of teams that do that,” he said. “Our forwards, our [midfielders], our goalie, everyone is involved when we’re defending.”
Junior forward Erin Russell attributed her second-half goal to the momentum that was carrying the team.
“We were really pumped,” she said. “I knew that once we got it wide, I could either get a nice cross or a shot off, so I got the shot.”
Russell is optimistic that the team can continue the pace it have set into the playoffs.
“We’re really on fire right now, we’re keeping positive," Russell said. "We can keep it up for sure.”
Vikings are now 13-1 overall for the season, and undefeated eight games into the Great Northwest Athletic Conference contests.
“Energy is super important for us," Connell said. "We have to out work our opponent, we talk about that every day in training, at every game. We did today."
Western takes on Saint Martin’s University at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Lacey, Washington.
