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MISSOULA, Mont. — A fifth-minute goal from junior defender Kayla Henningsen proved the difference Sunday, as the Portland State women's soccer team avenged its last Big Sky loss with a 1-0 win over Montana at South Campus Stadium.
 
Montana ended the Vikings' season in the Big Sky Tournament last season, giving the Vikings' win Sunday extra significance. Sunday's win also marked the Vikings' fourth straight win to start the 2013 conference schedule, and was the team's third straight road win.
 
The Vikings stayed in sole possession of the Big Sky Conference lead with the win, as the team now stands 4-0-0 in conference play and 7-4-1 overall. Montana, meanwhile, dropped to 3-5-4 overall and 0-3-1 in Big Sky play with the loss.
 
Henningsen put the Vikings up for good just 4:27 into the match, when she sent a direct free kick into the net from 45 yards out. The goal was by far the longest goal of the season for the Vikings, and made Henningsen the sixth different Viking to record multiple goals this season.
 
The Vikings dominated play after Henningsen's goal, too, as they outshot the Grizzlies 9-1 in the first half.
 
Montana put more pressure on the Vikings in the second half, outshooting them 7-5, but PSU goalkeeper Caitlin Plese saved all three of the Grizzlies shots on goal in the period to preserve the win for the Vikings.
 
Plese and the PSU defense recorded their third straight shutout in the match, and extended the team's shutout streak to a season-best 314:39. The team's previous season best came immediately before this streak, too, meaning Plese and the Viks have only allowed one goal in its past 595 minutes of play.
 
The Vikings have not trailed in any of its past six matches as a result of its strong defensive play recently. The last time the Viks trailed in a match was back on Sept. 13, when the team lost 1-0 to Florida Gulf Coast at the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Soccer Classic in Manoa, Hawaii.
 
PSU's last deficit will be almost a month old by the time the Vikings play their next match, as the Vikings return to action Friday, Oct. 11, against Southern Utah. That match will open the final home weekend of the regular season for the Vikings, with the team hosting Northern Arizona Sunday, Oct. 13, in the team's regular-season finale. Both matches next weekend will kick off at 1 p.m. (PT).
 
Match Notes: The Vikings improved to 10-8-2 all-time against Montana with Sunday's win…Coach Schott improved to 5-1-1 all-time against Montana, with her lone loss coming in the Big Sky Tournament last season…Henningsen's goal was the Vikings' first on a direct free kick this season…The Vikings are 7-1-1 so far in September and October.