Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash.- Senior Amanda Dutra recorded a season-high four shots for the Viks but the squad came up short, falling to Seattle University, 0-1, at Championship Field in Seattle Wash., on Sunday afternoon.

Portland State came out with fire in the first half controlling play for much of the period. Senior Amanda Dutra came close to giving the Viks a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute of play, firing a shot that goalkeeper, Brianna Smallidge had to go up and grab. In all, Portland State recorded five total shots in the first half, out-booting the Redhawks, 5-3. PSU and Seattle were tied 1-1 in corner opportunities at the end of the first stanza.

In the second half things tightened up as SU began to gain traction in its offensive attack. Seattle recorded the first four shots of the second period as Hulsizer had to make diving saves on two of the opportunities. In the 61st minute it looked like Dutra had once again given PSU its first goal of the contest but a shot in the box skipped by the goalkeeper and careened off the left post, keeping the score at 0-0. 

The Redhawks maintained their aggressive play and it paid off in the 76th minute as Melissa Busque sent a cross from down low and Monique Escalera connected, giving Seattle the 1-0 advantage. Despite some late pressure by the Viks attack Smallridge and the Redhawks' defense held strong and the Vikings fell, 0-1.

"The most important thing for this young talented team to do is take control of its destiny," head coach Laura Schott said. "Right now we are playing good soccer but we defer too often in the final third, when we should be going hard to goal. When we begin to capatalize on our opportunitieswe will be extremely dangerous." 

For the first time this season the Viks were outshot in the contest 9-14 and Seattle held the advantage in corner kick opportunities, 1-3.Dutra led PSU in shots with four, one of which was on goal while both Stephanie Verdoia and Julia Moravec paced the Redhawks in shots with three apiece.

Hulsizer (0-4-0) made her fourth start of the season and had her most impressive outing of the 2012 campaign, making three saves, on four shots on goal, several of which were of the acrobatic variety. Smallidge tallied her first complete-game shutout of the season making three saves and improving to 3-2-0 on the year.

Portland State will now prepare for the Viking Soccer Classic, hosted at Hillsboro Stadium next Friday and Sunday. The Viks will play Boise State on Friday afternoon and Utah State on Sunday afternoon. Those matches are slated for 3 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.