Western Oregon Takes GNAC Opener with Shutout of Montana State Billings
WOU found the back of the net right before halftime and not long into the second period.
(MONMOUTH, Ore.) — The Western Oregon University soccer team won its Great Northwest Athletic Conference season opener over Montana State Billings, 2-0, Thursday.
The Wolves (3-2-0, 1-0-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) were outshot 14-9, but put eight shots on goal to MSUB's nine. WOU found the back of the net right before halftime and not long into the second period.
Amanda Rose Johnson played a pivotal role in the Western Oregon net. The senior made nine saves. The Yellowjackets' Krystal Daniels stopped six shots.
The Wolves' Savannah Bogan scored her first goal of the season in the 43rd minute. She brought in a ball from Michaela Rapozo just inside the 18-yard box and chipped it over the MSUB goalkeeper.
In the 60th minute, the conference-leader in assists, Taylor Higa, recorded her fourth of the season with a pass to Makana Pundyke, who finished with a well-struck ball into the bottom right on the net. It was Pundyke's 13 career goal at WOU.
Higa took three shots, placing all three on goal, in the win. Alisa Sagdahl took a game-high seven shots for the Yellowjackets (2-1-0, 0-1-0 GNAC). Three were on goal.
Western Oregon is still unbeaten against Montana State Billings under Steve Ancheta, now 5-0-2. WOU has now won 20 of the 26 games when it scores first under Ancheta.
The Wolves welcome Northwest Nazarene (2-1-2, 1-0-0) Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
The Crusaders grabbed a 3-1 win at Saint Martin's Thursday.
Live stats will be available for Saturday's Western Oregon and NNU game on www.WOUWolves.com.
Source: Western Oregon Athletics
