First-Place Vikings Host Idaho, Eastern Washington in Final Home Stand

PORTLAND, Ore. - Ranked first in the Big Sky, Portland State's women's soccer team is right where it wants to be heading into this weekend's home finale at Hillsboro Stadium. The Vikings will host Idaho on Friday, Oct. 6 (6:00 p.m.) before welcoming Eastern Washington for senior day on Sunday, Oct. 8 (1:00 p.m.).

MATCH 1: IDAHO (6-3-2, 1-1-1 BSC) at PORTLAND STATE (5-5-1, 2-0-1 BSC)
Friday, Oct. 6 | 6:00 pm | Hillsboro, Ore. (Hillsboro Stadium)
All-Time Series: Idaho leads, 12-6-0
Last Meeting: L, 3-1 (Oct. 14, 2022)
UI 2022 Record: 12-3-3, 6-2 BSC (2nd place)
GAME LINKS: Watch | Live Stats

Idaho had a strong start to its season, going 5-2-1 against non-conference opponents. After opening conference action with a 1-1 tie against Weber State, the Vandals earned their first conference victory of the season over Idaho State, 4-0 (Sept. 24). They enter Friday tied third in the conference standings after falling to Montana 2-0 in their last outing (Oct. 1). The Vandals have scored 18 goals over 11 games while averaging 14.18 shots per game. Seniors Hannah Alfaro and Jadyn Hanks lead the team with four goals each. Kira Witte, the 2022 Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year has started all 11 matches in goal this season, recording 42 saves. Idaho is led by sixth-year head coach Jeremy Clevenger.

MATCH 2: EASTERN WASHINGTON (2-9-1, 1-1-1 BSC) at PORTLAND STATE (5-5-1, 2-0-1 BSC)
Sunday, Oct. 8 | 1:00 pm | Hillsboro, Ore. (Hillsboro Stadium)
All-Time Series: PSU leads, 14-13-2
Last Meeting: T, 1-1 (Oct. 16, 2022)
EWU 2022 Record: 5-8-5, 2-3-3 BSC (7th place)
GAME LINKS: Watch | Live Stats

Eastern Washington heads into the weekend with four points in conference play, tied for third place. They'll travel to Sacramento State on Friday, Oct. 6 before arriving in Portland. The Eagles opened Big Sky action with a 3-2 loss to Idaho State. Since then, they've defeated Weber State 2-1 on the road and tied Montana 1-1 at home. EWU ranks first in several offensive categories, largely due to a 16-1 win over Providence-Great Falls earlier this season. Senior forward leads the conference with 13 goals this season. The Eagles are led by third-year head coach Missy Strasburg.

2023 BIG SKY CONFERENCE STANDINGS

VIKINGS' LAST TIME OUT - AT SACRAMENTO STATE - The Vikings picked up their second conference victory of the season last Sunday at Sacramento State. Abi Hoffman's corner kick was tapped in by Audrey Williams in the 73rd minute of the match to break the scoreless tie. The Vikings' defense held strong for the final 27 minutes to secure the 1-0 win. It was just the second conference road win for the Vikings since 2019.

SENIOR DAY VS. EASTERN WASHINGTON - The Vikings will honor Hailey Green, Kailee-Rae Quartero, CeCe Jenkins, Sienna Higinbotham and Raniyah Burton on the field prior to Sunday's match against EWU.

LATE GAME WINNERS - Second-half goals have been crucial for Portland State this season, scoring 10 of its 14 goals in the final 45 minutes, six of which have been scored with less than 10 minutes on the clock. The Vikings have won four of their last five matches, netting game-winning goals in the final 30 minutes of all four of those wins. In back-to-back matches, Sienna Higinbotham (at CSUN) and Ocean Rideout (vs. UNC) scored game-winning goals in the 89th minute. Williams' goal in the 73rd minute at Sacramento State was the fourth second-half game-winner for the Vikings in the last month.

BIG SKY OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Senior forward Raniyah Burton put together a career weekend, earning her first career Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honor on Tuesday, Sept. 19. The 5'2 forward scored three goals and notched one assist for a team-high total of seven points. Her first career brace came against the Highlanders on Friday, netting the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute before adding another in the 85th. Burton's goals were scored 1 minute and 39 seconds apart, the second-fastest consecutive goals scored by an individual in program history. She finished the weekend with a goal and an assist in the Vikings' win at CSUN.

THE GREEN STREAK - Fifth-year defender Hailey Green holds one of the longest complete-game streaks in the NCAA, playing 31 consecutive matches without leaving the field. Green's streak spans across three seasons, dating back to Oct. 17, 2021. She enters Friday's match having played 2,810 consecutive minutes on the Vikings' back line.

BETWEEN THE POSTS - Sophomore Natalie Cunningham and graduate transfer Eden Millan have both seen action in goal for the Vikings this season. Making her first career start in the season opener against New Mexico State on Aug. 17, Cunningham was impressive in the net, recording a career-best 10 saves in the contest. Millan has started four matches, including two of three conference matches. She earned her first win over Northern Colorado in the Big Sky opener on Sept. 22, followed by another victory at Sacramento State on Oct. 1. The two have combined for three shutouts and 46 saves, allowing just one goal against Big Sky opponents.

KATIE BURTON'S 30TH WIN - The Vikings' win over CSUN marked Portland State Head Coach Katie Burton's 30th career win. Burton joined Laura Scott as just the second coach in program history to reach the milestone. 18 of Burton's victories have been against Big Sky opponents.

NOTES/LEADERS

Through three conference matches, the Vikings are one of only two teams to allow just one goal
Offensively, 9 of the Vikings' 14 goals have been scored in their last five games (since Sept 15)
The Vikings attempted 31 shots in their win against Pacific, the second-most in a single match in program history
The Vikings recorded a double-digit shot count in nine consecutive matches to open the season. They've been held to less than 10 shots in their last two contests
PSU has scored 10 of its 14 goals in the second half, six of which have been scored in the final ten minutes of action
Four of the Vikings' five game-winning goals this season have been scored in the final 30 minutes of action
Abi Hoffman leads the Vikings with 32 shots, averaging 2.91 shots per game which ranks fourth in the Big Sky
Hoffman also leads the Vikings with four goals. Raniyah Burton (3) and Sienna Higinbotham (2) are the only other Vikings' to have more than one goal
Both Burton and Hoffman have scored their first career braces this season. Hoffman netted a pair of goals against Pacific (Aug 27), while Burton notched hers against UC Riverside (Sept. 15)
Eight different Vikings have recorded an assist this season. Elle Frazier and Hoffman have a team-high two each.

2022 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Made their 14th appearance in the Big Sky Tournament
Secured the program's highest Big Sky Tournament seed since 2014 (3-seed)
Notched the first five-win season since 2018
Posted three consecutive shutouts to open Big Sky competition for the first time in program history
Opened Big Sky play 4-0-1 which marked their best start to conference action since 2013
Claimed their first wins over Northern Colorado, Montana, and Weber State since 2016

UP NEXT: The Vikings will close out the regular season with three conference road matches. Next weekend, they'll travel to Idaho State (Friday, Oct. 13) and Weber State (Sunday, Oct. 15) before closing out their schedule at Montana (Sunday, Oct. 22).

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Players Mentioned

#10 Hailey Green: D; 5' 8"; Senior; Hailey Green

#0 Natalie Cunningham: GK; 5' 11"; Freshman; Natalie Cunningham

#8 Raniyah Burton: F; 5' 2"; Senior; Raniyah Burton

#14 Elle Frazier: MF/F; 5' 7"; Sophomore; Elle Frazier

#10 Hailey Green: D; 5' 8"; Graduate Student; Hailey Green

#2 Sienna Higinbotham: MF; 5' 5"; Graduate Student; Sienna Higinbotham

#29 Abi Hoffman: MF; 5' 8"; Junior; Abi Hoffman

#32 Kailee-Rae Quartero: F; 5' 4"; Graduate Student; Kailee-Rae Quartero

#6 Ocean Rideout: F; 5' 7"; Sophomore; Ocean Rideout

#1 Eden Millan: GK; 5' 4"; Graduate Student; Eden Millan

Players Mentioned

#10 Hailey Green
: 5' 8"; Senior; Hailey Green
: D

#0 Natalie Cunningham
: 5' 11"; Freshman; Natalie Cunningham
: GK

#8 Raniyah Burton
: 5' 2"; Senior; Raniyah Burton
: F

#14 Elle Frazier
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; Elle Frazier
: MF/F

#10 Hailey Green
: 5' 8"; Graduate Student; Hailey Green
: D

#2 Sienna Higinbotham
: 5' 5"; Graduate Student; Sienna Higinbotham
: MF

#29 Abi Hoffman
: 5' 8"; Junior; Abi Hoffman
: MF

#32 Kailee-Rae Quartero
: 5' 4"; Graduate Student; Kailee-Rae Quartero
: F

#6 Ocean Rideout
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; Ocean Rideout
: F

#1 Eden Millan
: 5' 4"; Graduate Student; Eden Millan
: GK