@UNCBearsSoccer Falls in Championship

Sunday, November 5

Cheney, Wash.

1:05pm

University of Northern Colorado

13-7-2 (5-3-2)

Eastern Washington University

16-5-1 (8-1-1)

Northern Colorado

Eastern Washington

11/5/2017 1:02:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: By: Charlie Snelson

CHENEY, Wash. -Penalty kick goals by Savannah Hoekstra and Chloe Williams put the Eagles ahead 2-0 and Alexa Stevenson added a third as the Bears fell to No. 1 Eastern Washington 3-0 in the Big Sky Conference Championship Sunday afternoon at E.W. Soccer Field.

Snow fell throughout the match but the speed of Eastern Washington's forwards could not be obstructed and Northern Colorado was outshot 16-3 on the day. The loss for the Bears brings to a conclusion a very strong season. As the No. 3 seeded team in the conference tournament, UNC defeated No. 5 Sacramento State in the quarterfinals and No. 2 Montana in the semifinals to earn their way to the title game. The Bears run to the finals also eclipsed their mark last season, which saw them fall in the quarterfinals to Northern Arizona.

How It Happened: Goalkeeper Madeline Burdick played a strong first half for the Bears. In the 23^rd minute, Saige Lyons took a pass and got behind the Northern Colorado defense. Her one on one chance was denied when Burdick came out and aggressively dove in front of the shot, sending the ball wide.

In the 35^th minute Brook Braden attempted a shot from distance that went wide right. After the ensuing goal kick, the Eagles countered with a Chloe Williams shot from the middle of the box that Burdick punched out to keep it a scoreless game. At the end of the first half the shots favored Eastern Washington 8-1 and Burdick had six saves to her credit.

At 61:33 of the second half, Savannah Hoekstra scored the game's first goal on a penalty kick. A mishandle by Maddie Barkow led Hoekstra to an open chance coming down the right side. An illegal slide in the box resulting in the penalty kick for Hoekstra, who kicked it past Burdick into the lower right corner of the goal.

At 74:02, the Eagles scored again. This time a foul at the edge of the box by Kenzie Engelkins gave a penalty kick to Chloe Williams, who made no mistake, putting the ball low and to the right of center to make it 2-0 Eagles.

Three minutes later at 77:23, a long shot drew a good save by Burdick, but Alexis Stephenson was the first player there to clean up the rebound, kicking it low into the right corner of the goal.

After the goal, the Bears continued to struggle to find offense and the pressure continued offensively for Eastern Washington until the final minute.

The Bears end the season with a 13-7-2 overall record including postseason play (5-3-2 Big Sky). Eastern Washington eclipsed their previous school record by scoring their 47^th goal of the season against UNC.

The Big Sky Tournament All-Tournament team included Northern Colorado's Madeline Burdick, Mariel Gutierrez, Jaqui Pulley, and Olivia Seddon.