Eversaul goal helps WWU soccer reach title match

Grace Eversaul, a junior from Skyview High, scored early to boost Western Washington into the NCAA Division-II national championship match.

Eversaul’s goal in the ninth minute led the Vikings to a 2-0 win over Flagler College (Fla.) on Thursday in Pittsburgh.

Western Washington (23-2-0) will face Grand Valley State (24-1-0) for the national title at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Eversaul’s goal, her team-high eighth of the season, was plenty for the nation’s top-ranked defense. Western Washington earned its school-record 18th shutout, this one coming against the top-scoring team in Division-II.

Eversaul scored on a one-time shot from 20 yards that went just under the crossbar.

“We got off to a great start in the match,” Vikings coach Travis Connell said. “We knew Flagler has some big-time attacking weapons and I was impressed with our energy at the start and getting the ball forward early in the match that resulted in a great goal by Grace.”

Western Washington is in the Final Four for the fourth time. The previous trip saw the Vikings win their only national championship in 2016.

A bird’s eye view of your first goal of the game. Western Washington up 1-0 with 36 minutes left in the first half. #D2WSOC @WWUAthletics @NCAADII pic.twitter.com/CkIFCJCU60

— Wayne Cavadi (@WayneCavadi_D2) December 12, 2019