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HILLSBORO, Ore. — A surprise goal just 10 seconds before the end of the first half cost the Portland State women's soccer team a victory on Senior Day, as Northern Colorado beat the Vikings 1-0 Sunday in the Vikings' final match at Hillsboro Stadium.
 
The loss means the Vikings (5-11-0, 3-5-0 Big Sky) will likely need to win both of their final two matches to qualify for the Big Sky tournament. The Vikings currently stand seventh in the Big Sky, one point out of sixth and the final qualifying position.
 
The Vikings will have their chances to move up the table, however, as Portland State plays the two teams directly above them in the standings to close out the regular season. The Vikings play Montana, currently sixth with 10 points, on the road on Friday, and then close out the regular season at Sacramento State, currently tied for fourth, on Oct. 30.
 
The Bears, meanwhile, won their sixth Big Sky match in seven tries with their win over the Vikings Sunday.
 
Freshman Mariel Gutierrez scored the game-winning goal for the Bears with just 10 seconds left before halftime. Gutierrez started and finished the play for the Bears, as she sent in an initial cross that PSU goalkeeper Angela Haluska got a hand on. The Vikings couldn't gain control of the ball, however, and by the time the Bears' Kassy Castillo got the ball at the top of the box, everybody had left Gutierrez, who was quietly standing open on the back post. It was an easy pass from Castillo to Gutierrez then, and Gutierrez placed a ball to the right of Haluska for the score.
 
The Vikings pushed hard for an equalizer in the second half, but couldn't find one despite outshooting the Bears 8-1 in the period.
 
Sophomore midfielder Katie Forsee had a couple of good looks at an equalizer in the second half, the first of which came off a corner in the 48th minute, when she fired a header from short range that UNC goalkeeper Kaitlin Ruff had to dive to save off the line. Forsee then fired a long header on goal from 15 yards in the 83rd minute that Ruff had to jump to save from tucking in under the crossbar.
 
Freshman forward Megan Myers also got a shot off on a corner that nearly stucked into the left post but sailed just out in the 82nd minute. Additionally, senior midfielder/forward Cori Bianchini tried to catch Ruff off guard with a quick shot from distance in the 71st minute after an initial ball got punched out of the box.
 
Despite not finding the next, the Vikings still finished with advantages in both shots (12-7) and corners (8-3).
 
The Vikings will now turn their attention to the Montana Grizzlies, who they'll play at 3 p.m. (MT) Friday in Missoula, Mont., with potential spots in the Big Sky tournament on the line for both teams. Montana lost 1-0 to Weber State earlier Sunday.
 
Match Notes: The Vikings fall to 7-4-1 all-time against Northern Colorado with Sunday's loss…The loss was the Vikings' first defeat at home since losing 2-1 to Northern Arizona on Sept. 27…The Vikings were also shut out at home for the first time since a 1-0 loss to UC Davis on Aug. 28 earlier this season…The match marked the final home match for Cori Bianchini, Emma Cooney, Angela Haluska, Tamia Hasan and Whitney Hilde.