Spring win!

The Portland State women’s soccer team and reigning Big Sky regular season champions closed out the spring season scrimmages with a 1-0 win over Western Oregon on Saturday at the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation in Beaverton. Later that evening the Vikings hosted the annual Portland State Alumni Game on the Stott Community Field to a crowd of fans and former players.

The Vikings won the final scrimmage of the offseason off a goal from freshman striker Megan Martin. Going into Saturday, the Vikings had lost two scrimmages and earned a draw in another over the spring offseason schedule that featured NCAA favorites Portland, as well as Seattle and Seattle Pacific.

Against Western Oregon, sophomore striker Martin gave Portland State the lead off an assist from sophomore Amanda Dutra and freshman Kimmie Tammen.

“Amanda hit a very good shot,” Martin said. “I thought it was going to go over, but it came off the crossbar and came back. But Kimmie [Tammen], Kala [Renard] and I were right there to get it. If I wasn’t there, they were going to score.”

Throughout the spring season, the Vikings played without two of last season’s starting defenders, sophomore Toni Carnovale and junior Emily Rohde. The team also missed the services of Big Sky Offensive MVP and Golden Boot winner, Dolly Enneking, Defensive MVP Cris Lewis and team captain Nathalie Wollmann—three seniors whom played their final game for Portland State last season.

“I think our team did really well,” Martin said. “We just need to finish more, but our passing has been great. I think it’s going to be a team effort. We want everyone to score goals, including the defenders—like Toni Carnovale, who scored two goals last season.”

Head coach Laura Schott, last year’s Big Sky Coach of the Year, was pleased with the performance of her team.

“We created a lot of chances and got a win out of it,” Schott said. “We have been moving forward all spring and we are looking forward to the fall.”

On Saturday evening, the Vikings welcomed former players and alumni onto the pitch for the annual Portland State Alumni Game. The friendly match ended in a 1-1 draw. Current assistant coach and Portland State alumna Melanie Langley scored the goal for the alumni team.

“We just came out to have fun,” said Enneking, who played in her first Alumni Game on Saturday. When asked what she plans to do next, Portland State’s all-time leading goal score said she has plans to keep playing soccer.

Schott said she enjoys the annual tradition of the Alumni Game.

“The alumni game is always fun,” Schott said. “It’s great to get people out that we don’t see all the time and have been connected to the program. I think everybody enjoyed themselves and it was a good day.”