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CHENEY, Wash. — Tough luck seems to find the Portland State women's soccer team this season.
Two days after a deflected free kick found the back of the net in a 1-0 loss to Idaho, Eastern Washington jumped on another deflection to score the lone goal in a 1-0 win over the Vikings Sunday, handing the Vikings their third straight loss.
"That was one of the best games the team has ever played, this year or other years," PSU head coach
Laura Schott said after the match against the Eagles. "Soccer is an unforgiving sport and we didn't get the result, but I'm proud of the group and the effort of each player."
The Vikings (3-9-0, 1-3-0 Big Sky) have outshot all three of their opponents over their current three-match losing streak, but have come out on the wrong end each time.
Sunday's match was no different as the Vikings outshot the Eagles (10-1-1, 4-0-0 Big Sky) in both periods, including an 8-5 advantage in the second half.
The Vikings' push in the second half came after the Eagles went up just before halftime on a 45th minute goal by Tasha Luu. Luu jumped on a deflection off of a PSU player on the play, and dribbled past the PSU defense before sending a shot into the upper right corner of the net.
Just like Friday, the Vikings responded well to their opponents' goal, however, as the team directed five of its eight shots in the second half on frame as it searched for an equalizer. Senior midfielder/forward
Cori Bianchini led the Viking attack with two shots on goal in the second half, while junior midfielder/forward
Aurora Bodenhamer, freshman midfielder
Rachel Ross and redshirt junior midfielder
Whitney Hilde all also forced EWU goalkeeper Mallory Taylor into making a save on shots after halftime.
Hilde also sent a shot wide in the 60th minute of the match, while sophomore midfielder/defender
Katie Forsee sent a shot high in the 48th minute. Sophomore forward
Rachel Michieli also fired a shot that was blocked in the 85th minute of play.
Sunday's hard luck match marked the fifth 1-0 loss of the season for the Vikings, while six of the team's nine losses this season have come by a single goal.
The Vikings will look to shake their hard luck as they return home for their next match when Idaho State comes to town on Friday. The Vikings will host the Bengals at 1 p.m. (PT) Friday at Hillsboro Stadium.
Match Notes: The Vikings fall to 14-5-1 all-time against Eastern Washington after Sunday's loss…Eastern Washington remains perfect in the Big Sky after Sunday's win over the Vikings, and currently stand on top of the Big Sky table with Idaho, the Vikings' opponent Friday.
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