BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Scoring in the opening four minutes and never looking back on a rainy Saturday at Harrington Field, No. 12 Western Washington University topped Montana State University Billings 3-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's soccer play.
 
Makenzie Burks scored the game-winning goal in the fourth minute, tucking home a left-footed shot on a corner-kick service from Darby Doyle. After adding two more scores, the Vikings improved to 11-2-2 overall and 8-2 in conference play with the win.
 
MSUB (5-7-3, 2-6-2 GNAC) was out-shot 21-6 in the match and managed to place just two attempts on target. The Vikings won nine corner kicks while preventing the 'Jackets from any.
 
Clare Keenan was MSUB's standout performer in goal, matching her season high with nine saves as she was kept busy throughout the day. Liberty Palmer led MSUB with three shot attempts, while Sydney Torres placed both of her strikes on frame in a quiet overall performance from the offense.
 
WWU doubled its lead midway through the first half, when Jenna Killman embarked on a long run down the left side of the field and rushed past a pair of MSUB defenders. She touched a well-placed, left-footed strike into the side netting at the far post from a tight angle to make it 2-0.
 
Keenan delivered a leaping tip-save with 16 minutes left in the match, timing her jump perfectly to deny a shot by Allison Lepp that was headed for the top of the goal. WWU capitalized on the ensuing corner kick however, as Killman headed home the final goal of the match on a cross from Burks.
 
MSUB had a decent look towards goal in the 83rd minute, winning a dangerous free kick deep in WWU territory. The strike by Hailee Gertsch traveled well over the crossbar however, as WWU goalkeeper Natalie Dierickx was never in danger on the set play.
 
Dierickx stopped both of Torres' shots on the way to her sixth shutout of the season, and the Vikings utilized 21 different players.
 
Perhaps Keenan's best save came in the waning seconds of the match, when Ellie Busik got free and cut loose a shot headed for the top of the goal. Keenan leapt up and backwards, reaching out with her left arm to tip it over the crossbar just before time expired. Gertsch and Sydney Wate each played the full 90 minutes for the Yellowjackets on the defensive unit.
 
THE BUZZ: Keenan was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 3-25-1 all-time against WWU and is 1-12-1 in matches played in Bellingham.
 
NEXT UP: MSUB's final home matches are next week, with Western Oregon coming to town on Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m. and Saint Martin's following on Oct. 30 at noon. Live coverage for the home games will be available online here.