Amazing year ends in conference final

The Portland State soccer team concluded the season as the nation’s most improved team. However, on Saturday the impressive turnaround came to an end against Idaho State. The Vikings lost a thrilling overtime championship match-up, 1-0.

On Thursday, the Vikings played Montana in a semifinal game to advance to the championship. In just the 28th minute of the game, Ginny Seibel scored her second game-winning goal of the year. Again, it was Carly Sawhill setting up a teammate to score to put the Vikings in front and in control. For the final 62 minutes the Vikings defense did not allow the Grizzlies to attempt a shot. The offense controlled the ball and tempo of the match.

“The players deserve all the credit for handling the pressure of the postseason and executing our game plan,” head coach Tara Bilanski-Erickson said in a recent press release.

After getting past Montana, it was on to the championship against Idaho State, which had beaten the Vikings earlier in the season on the same field, 1-0. Throughout the game the Vikings were more aggressive than the Bengals taking more corner kicks at 5-1 and more shots, 17-8.

���� It took sudden-death overtime for the favored Bengals to finally get past the Vikings. In the 95th minute of the game it was Stacy Peterson, the second-leading scorer in the conference, who took the chance to score from 16 yards out. Peterson put away the only goal of the game for a dramatic hard-fought victory and automatic berth to the NCAA College Cup for the Bengals.

“Our players left everything they had out on the field today. They played with confidence and purpose and have no reason to hang their heads. They should be extremely proud of what they accomplished this season,” Bilanski-Erickson said.

��� ������ Portland State earned many deserving accolades for the year. Bilanski-Erickson was named the Big Sky Conference coach of the year, and the team had the best turnaround record in the nation. Katie Miyake was named Big Sky newcomer of the year with her speed and points on offense. The Vikings also had a conference-best, five players named to the all-tournament team. Freshman players Sawhill, Jessie Corr and Megan Plinski made the team, as did two sophomores, Amy Orr and Katie Miyake.