Christine Sinclair matches the Portland single-season goals scored record with her 30th strike of 2005
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - No. 2 Portland clinched at least a share of the West Coast Conference women’s soccer title and earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs with a 3-0 shutout of the San Francisco Dons Sunday afternoon at Negoesco Stadium. The Pilots (17-0-1, 5-0-1 WCC) have now won or shared eight conference crowns since the WCC began sponsoring women’s soccer in 1992. The Dons (4-13-2, 2-4-0 WCC) are now 0-19 all-time against Portland.
Portland can win the WCC crown outright with a victory at home against Saint Mary’s this Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in the regular season finale for both schools. A win would also give Portland an undefeated regular season record for the third time in school history, both the 1995 and 1996 teams entered the playoffs without a loss as well.
“It was another great team performance this afternoon,” said coach Garrett Smith. “We played very unselfish throughout and put ourselves in dangerous positions all game. Now we’re only one win away from having the WCC title outright, which was one of our goals for the season.”
On Sunday, the nation’s leading scorer was at it again as Christine Sinclair netted her 30th goal of the 2005 season, tying the school single-season record held by Tiffeny Milbrett (1992, 1994). In the 28th minute, Sinclair took a pass from All-America midfielder Lindsey Huie and beat a USF defender before tapping in an easy finish for what proved to be her 37th career game-winner. It was Huie's 13th assist of the 2005 season and 47th of her career, three short of Justi Baumgardt's school record.
The Pilots added another goal in the 42nd minute as sophomore forward Natalie Budge was on the finishing end of a slot pass from freshman midfielder Megan Rapinoe. Budge looped her attempt over the head of USF keeper Katie Hodgson and now has five goals on the season, while Rapinoe logged her ninth assist.
Sophomore midfielder Angie Woznuk capped the scoring in the 54th minute, taking a pass from former U.S. Under-19 National Team teammate Stephanie Lopez and crushing a 22-yard sitter from the left to the far post for her third goal of the 2005 campaign.
The Pilots outshot USF 21-3 for the game and held a 10-2 edge in shots on goal. Portland junior goalkeeper Ruth Gilliam made her first career start and stopped two shots in earning the shutout. Cori Alexander, Portland’s normal starter, earned a much-deserved rest and sat out the match for precautionary reasons with a sore shoulder. The shutout is the 12th of the year for the Pilots, matching last season’s total for the third most shutouts in a single season in program history - the 2002 and 2003 Pilots recorded 17 shutouts.
Hodgson made five saves between the pipes for the Dons, while Kelly Pohle played the final 29:07 in net and stopped two shots without allowing a goal.
Portland will honor its four seniors on Saturday in the regular season finale at Merlo Field. Christine Sinclair, Lindsey Huie, Kelsy Hollenbeck and Colleen Salisbury will be recognized prior to kickoff. Tickets are still available for the 7 p.m. start against Saint Mary’s.
Portland (17-0-1, 5-0-1) vs. U. of San Francisco (4-13-2, 2-4-0)
Date: Oct 30, 2005 Attendance: 500
Weather: Sunny, Clear, and Warm
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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Portland............ 2 1 - 3
U. of San Francisco. 0 0 - 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 27:34 POR SINCLAIR, Christine (30) (HUIE, Lindsey) - Juked defender and pushed in slow roller
2. 41:50 POR BUDGE, Natalie (5) (RAPINOE, Megan) - Kicked it over head of goalie
3. 53:29 POR WOZNUK, Angie (3) (LOPEZ, Stephanie)
Shots: Portland 21, U. of San Francisco 3
Saves: Portland 2 (GILLIAM, Ruth 2), U. of San Francisco 7 (POHLE, Kelly 2; HODGSON, Katie 5)
