After games against ranked powers in No. 10 Texas Tech and No. 21 California, Portland State’s soccer team’s out-of-conference schedule has come to an end.
The Vikings came out of their preseason schedule with a 3–3–2 record, going into their first conference game against Northern Arizona University. PSU traveled to Flagstaff on Friday to play a game that finished in a 1–1 tie. Northern Arizona took the lead with a goal in the 13th minute from forward Adrian Nixt.
Things did not look good for the Vikings early, who have never won in Flagstaff. But that all changed 12 minutes later, when PSU forward Tamia Hasan tied up the game. Hasan had just entered the game right after Northern Arizona took the lead, and it did not take her long to get in the flow of the match. Junior midfielder Emma Cooney assisted Hasan’s goal.
Hasan has now scored two goals this season, putting her in a tie for most goals scored this season with freshman Mackenzie Bean. The game finished tied, but after PSU’s equalizer, the Vikings were on the attack until the final whistle. There were multiple chances for PSU to take the lead in the game, which would have been the first time the Vikings got three points in Flagstaff. The women came up just short however, and settled with a draw in their first conference game.
Even though the Vikings did not capitalize, their late attacks showed growth this season, as there have been times early in the season where the women gave up late goals. Unfortunately for PSU, those goals have cost them games against some of the top teams in the nation.
“It’s all about consistency,” head coach Laura Schott said. “We have to stay focused for the entire 90 minutes.”
Schott has seen her Vikings struggle late in games on set pieces during the out-of-conference schedule, which included two losses by one goal.
Playing against No. 10 Texas Tech, PSU saw themselves lose 1–0 in double overtime after giving up a goal on a set piece.
Most recently, PSU’s struggles came against the San Jose State Spartans, who scored in the 86th minute after sending a free kick into the box. The ball bounced around before San Jose State’s Lupita Estrada sent it into the back of the net.
For PSU, the loss against the Spartans was their first home loss since last year, a streak that lasted 11 games. Of those 11 games, the Vikings won eight and tied three. PSU’s protection of their home field was a big reason for all their success last season, and the Vikings will look to start a new streak when they play their first home conference game against PSU rival Eastern Washington on Oct. 3.
The team has five home conference games on their schedule. The conference schedule will go by fast, as the Big Sky tournament starts in just over a month.