Postseason life

With a 1-0 shutout win on the road Saturday against Idaho State, the Vikings officially clinched a spot in the Big Sky Tournament for the second year in a row, a feat never before accomplished by the women’s soccer program.

The victory not only elevated Portland State (5-10-3, 4-1-1 BSC) back to the top of Big Sky standings, but also marked the culmination of their impressive late-season turnaround spearheaded by an offensive awakening.

First-year head coach Laura Schott attributed her squad’s recent success to their mental toughness.

“We had a very difficult nonconference schedule,” Schott said. “It’s a tribute to the team that they were able to take that experience and put it to work.”

In the 12 nonconference games that began the Vikings’ season, the team often seemed out-matched by their opponents. Those games included tough matchups with national powerhouses USC (2-0, loss) and UCLA (7-0, loss).

In those early contests the Vikings’ offense failed to click, amassing a mere seven goals en route to a 1-9-2 record.

Since the start of conference play on Oct. 10, however, the Vikings’ attack has come alive, garnering nine goals in only six games.

On Oct. 19, the women had their most illustrious offensive outing, racking up four goals on the day and pelting the Eastern Washington defense with 25 shots.

On Saturday, it wasn’t Portland State’s offense that made the difference. Strong resistance from the Bengal defensive line limited the Vikings’ push toward the goal to only four shots on the day.

Instead, it was the Vikings’ defense, anchored by last week’s Big Sky Player of the Week junior defender Suzanne Hinton, which kept them afloat.

“Anytime you play a team like Idaho State, you have to think defensively,” Schott said. “They come with a lot of numbers, and they come hard.”

In her second shutout of the year, junior goalkeeper Cris Lewis captured five saves in the match, bringing her season total to 114 and her career total to 259.

Those weekend totals were good enough to move her into second place in the all-time ranking on the school’s Division I career list.

The game’s lone goal was scored two minutes into the first half, when surging sophomore midfielder Frankie Ross converted on a cross from junior midfielder Dolly Enneking.

The assist was Ennekings’ second of the season, and Ross’s goal was her third in four games.

“We pushed her out wide a little more this season,” Schott said of Ross. “She’s a talented player when she has space to work with–she can really go at defenders.”

On Friday, Oct. 31, the Vikings host Sacramento State for the final game of the regular season.

A victory would secure home field advantage for the Vikings throughout the Big Sky Tournament the following weekend.