Western Washington University is off to an unbeaten start to the season, with junior goalkeeper Ashley Haden yet to allow a ball into her net.
The Hockinson High School graduate has made 18 saves for the 4-0 Vikings, who have blanked Humboldt State, Azusa Pacific, Cal Baptist and Notre Dame De Namur.
Going into the season, goalkeeper was the one place on the field where WWU did not return extensive experience, although Haden is in her fourth year in the program and did not allow a goal in 187 minutes of action in five substitute appearances a year ago.
“Ashley had a great spring,” WWU coach Travis Connell told the school webiste wwuvikings.com before the season began. “She really asserted herself and took a big step forward in consistency.”
The Vikings were Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions a year ago, reaching the NCAA Division II semifinals and finishing 20-2-1.
Western Washington, ranked third in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II Top 25, open GNAC play on the road Thursday at Central Washington and Saturday at Seattle Pacific.
The Vikings are playing home matches at newly completed Robert S. Harrington Field, marking the first time since 2000 at an on-campus facility following more than a decade of playing at Whatcom Community College’s Orca Field.
Cross country
Guenther, Reiter help WWU women to second
Taylor Guenther placed third overall and Austen Reiter finished 10th as the Western Washington University women placed second at the Central Washington Invitational on Saturday in Ellensburg.
Guenther, a Prairie High School graduate, ran the 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) course in 15 minutes, 3 seconds. Reiter, a Camas High School graduate, finished in 15:37.
Both are juniors.
The Vikings return to action Sept. 27 at the Saint Martin’s University Invitational in Lacey.
Soccer
Frontier Conference tabs Carroll’s Carter
Carroll College sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Carter was named Frontier Conference Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for the final week of August.
The Saints won two matches that week with the Camas High School graduate in goal.
After splitting two matches last week in Washington, falling 2-0 to Northwest University on Friday then beating The Evergreen State College 2-1 on Sunday, the Helena, Mont., school’s team is 6-1-1.
Carter has allowed six goals in eight matches.
Cross country
Timmons helps Toledo rocket to meet titles
University of Toledo senior Priscilla Timmons placed fifth as the Rockets swept the top seven places while posting a perfect score in winning the Mel Brodt Invitational cross country meet held Friday at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
The Skyview High School graduate ran the 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) course in 17 minuts, 47.32 seconds, in the meet with Bowling Green, Siena Heights and Cleveland State.
Earlier, Timmons was the team’s sixth finisher as the Rockets won their own Toledo Home Opener meet Aug. 29, a three-team meet including Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.
Toledo’s next meet is the Notre Dame Invitational on Oct. 3 in South Bend, Ind.
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