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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Portland State women's soccer team finished the program's first unbeaten Big Sky record with a 1-0 win Friday at Sacramento State.
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With the win, the Vikings finish the 2013 regular season 8-0-1 in the Big Sky, setting a single-season program record with 25 points in Big Sky play. The Vikings also improved to 11-4-2 overall this season, giving the program its most wins in a season since the Vikings won 13 in 2002.
"An undefeated conference season is a great accomplishment," PSU head coach
Laura Schott said. "We are working hard to extend the season as long as we can. They support and enjoy each other and we hope to make the upcoming postseason a memorable one."
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The Vikings topped the Hornets (7-9-2, 3-5-1 Big Sky) Friday on the back of a 33rd-minute goal from sophomore midfielder
Cori Bianchini. Freshman midfielder
Abbey Bergquist sent Bianchini the ball on the play, feeding her in front of the goal on a cross from the right side of the field.
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The goal was Bianchini's Big Sky-leading fourth game-winning goal of the season, and her fifth overall. Bianchini now ranks tied for 10th on the single-season points list at Portland State with 14 (5g, 4a) this season.
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Bianchini's goal proved to be all the Vikings needed Friday, as sophomore goalkeeper
Caitlin Plese made four saves after the goal to preserve the lead. Plese's play gave her a record-breaking ninth individual shutout of the season, breaking the record she previously shared with 2009 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year
Cris Lewis.
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Meanwhile, as a team, the Vikings have now recorded 10 shutouts this season, extending the single-season record they set with a shutout of Idaho State last Sunday. Additionally, the Vikings lowered their goals-against average to 0.86 this season, which would set a new single-season team record if the season ended today. The 2002 Vikings set the current single-season goals-against average at 0.87.
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Overall, the Vikings allowed only three goals in Big Sky play during the regular season, two of which came on penalty kicks.
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PSU has now gone unbeaten over 11 straight matches, two matches short of the Big Sky record, which Weber State set at 13 in 1998.
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The Vikings take their unbeaten streak into the Big Sky Tournament, which they will host Nov. 7 and 9 at Hillsboro Stadium.
"We had a great crowd on the road today in Sacramento, and so we're looking forward to playing the tournament at home in front of them," Schott said. "There's a lot of people who are dedicated to supporting this team."
The Vikings have qualified for the last seven Big Sky Tournaments, with the last six coming under Schott.
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Match Notes: Friday's win puts the Vikings 7-10-3 all-time against Sacramento State…Coach Schott now stands 4-1-2 against Sacramento State in her career…With Bianchini's goal Friday, she and junior forward
Eryn Brown have combined for 12 goals this season, the most combined goals by two PSU players since Dolly Enneking (12) and Frankie Ross (3) combined for 15 goals during the 2009 season…Plese moved into sole possession of second place in single-season goalkeeper wins with 11 this season.