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HILLSBORO, Ore. –  Junior Amanda Dutra scored her second goal of the season in the 12th minute of the match Thursday morning, as the Portland State women's soccer team held on for an important 1-0 victory over Weber State at Hillsboro Stadium.

The Vikings (7-7-2 overall, 3-1-2 Big Sky Conference) picked up the all-important three points in the standings with the win Thursday and now sits atop the Big Sky Conference Standings with 11 total points. The Vikings need another three points and a Northern Colorado loss, or two Northern Colorado ties, to claim the Big Sky regular season championship and the honors of hosting the conference tournament.

After a Weber State (6-10-1, 3-2-1) foul just outside their own 18-yard box on the near side, Portland State lined up for a free kick. Senior Toni Carnovale set up for the free kick but then passed it to Dutra in the middle of the field. Dutra one-touched the ball behind her, dribbled left and blasted a shot into the upper right corner of the net past the Wildcats' keeper Ryann Waldman to take the early 1-0 advantage just second into the 12th minute.

The goal was Dutra's second goal of the season and Carnovale's first assist of her senior campaign.

After a 23 shot performance at home last Sunday that resulted in a 1-1, double-overtime draw against Northern Arizona, the Vikings continued to apply the pressure and dominate the time of possession in the first half Thursday. The Vikings out-shot the Wildcats 5-to-4 in the first half and 8-to-7 in the match, but it was the physical play that stood out in the match.

““The intensity and the way we played physically was the best that we've play sense the Sacramento State game,” Head Coach Laura Schott said. “That's how conference games go. Everyone is fighting to get into the conference tournament and things get physical. I thought that we met the challenge and did very well.”

After scoring early in the match, Portland State was able to hold on to its early lead, something they struggled to do earlier in the season. Although the Viking were unable to put in a second goal, their defense stepped up to the challenge and stifled the Wildcats to finish out the match.

“The game was a bit of a grinder which is to be expected at this point of the season,” Schott said. “I thought that their effort was outstanding and getting the win was very important for us moving forward.”

The best scoring opportunity that the Wildcats had in the second half was with about 17:30 left in the match. They had a cross that went from the near sideline all the way to the far sideline about six yards out but there was no one there to try and knock it in and the Vikings cleared it.

Melissa Ferguson started the match for the Vikings and played the first half not giving up a goal and recording two saves. Lainey Hulsizer played the second half in goal and recorded one save. Dutra, Carnovale and Megan Martin all had two shots in the game to lead the Vikings.

The Vikings now head to Pocatello, Idaho for their season finale against the Bengals of Idaho State Sunday afternoon. The Season finale is slated to start at 12 p.m. PT.