BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Elise Aylward and Emily Webster each scored in the second half for host Western Washington University, as the No. 3 Vikings defeated visiting Montana State University Billings 2-0 Saturday at Harrington Field in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer match.
 
MSUB (5-4-2, 3-3-1 GNAC) was held to just six shots on the match, while the Vikings kept the Yellowjackets busy with 20 attempts and 10 on target. The Vikings improved to 11-1 on the season and remained perfect in GNAC play with a record of 6-0.
 
"I am happy with the women today," commented MSUB head coach Wojtek Krakowiak. "We played very organized and created some good scoring chances. The women played with a lot of heart, determination, and passion. Give Western credit for still being undefeated in the GNAC."
 
Entering the game having scored in her last two matches, Yellowjacket freshman Alycia Wright had both of her team's looks that were on target during the match.
 
Wright first tested WWU goalkeeper Ashley Haden in the 27th minute, forcing the first save of the match by the home team's keeper.
 
Both teams were relatively quiet in the first half, with MSUB earning a pair of corner kicks and WWU earning three. Yellowjacket keeper Chloe Hopps made her first save of the match in the 10th minute of action, denying a shot by Stephanie Hamilton that was on frame.
 
Hopps saved a pair of shot attempts by Aylward throughout the first half, and the teams headed to the locker rooms with the score line at 0-0.
 
The Vikings capitalized early on in the second half, with Aylward finishing a cross from Savanna Moorehouse in the 48th minute to break the deadlock.
 
The goal was directly preceded by Wright's second on-target shot of the match, but the 'Jackets were held to just one shot the rest of the game.
 
WWU meanwhile kept the pressure on MSUB's back line, and Webster scored her second goal of the season on a free kick from 25 yards out that she coaxed into the net off of the crossbar.
 
The loss was the second in-a-row for MSUB, while WWU won its ninth straight game. Hopps finished with eight saves on the game, and has now made 17 saves over her last three matches. Center backs Katlyn Lokay and Kari Kastelic played all 90 minutes, keeping their season-long minutes played streaks alive.
 
Also playing complete games were Dana Lubieniecki and Sarah Coghlan, while senior Teegan Koster turned in 80 quality minutes and had one of MSUB's six shots.
 
Hopps was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game, as her eight saves were a personal season-best.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets completed their four-game road trip Saturday, and will return home for a pair of matches next weekend. MSUB hosts Seattle Pacific on Oct. 15 at 1 p.m., before challenging Saint Martin's on Oct. 17 with a 3:30 p.m. start time. Both matches are part of a doubleheader with the MSUB men's soccer team, and the match against the Saints will be MSUB Kicks Cancer day at Yellowjacket Field.