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Sept. 14, 2009

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Returning to form, the Western Washington University women's soccer team completes a seven-game, season-opening home stand this week, playing host to Saint Martin's University on Wednesday (7 p.m.) and Central Washington University on Saturday (11 a.m.) in a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference contests at Orca Field on the Whatcom Community College campus.

After going winless in their first three games, the 2-2-1 Vikings have rallied with shutout victories in their last two outings, 1-0 over Sonoma State on Sept. 7 and 3-0 over Western Oregon last Friday to begin GNAC play.

Western has not lost in 17 league counters (15-0-2), the Vikings' last league loss being 2-0 to Seattle Pacific on Oct. 17, 2007. Western won last year's GNAC title with a 10-0-2 record and reached the championship game of the Far West Regional.

Taking over Western's goalkeeping duties against Central was Kylie Broadbent (Sr., Spokane/Lewis & Clark), who agreed to return to school after the Vikings found themselves with only one goalkeeper.

Last year, Broadbent was a first-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America and second-team Daktronics Far West Region all-star and first-team all-GNAC pick. She started all 22 games for the Vikings, allowing just 0.70 goals per game and posting eight shutouts.

Following that season, Broadbent graduated with a bachelor's degree in cellular and molecular biology/biochemistry. She is returning to complete a second degree in behavioral neuroscience.

Forward Molly Shannon (Jr., Bellingham) has assisted on three of Western's four goals in its two victories. She leads the Vikings with five points on one goal and three assists.

Forward Emily Frankland (Jr., Sammamish/Skyline) has scored a team-leading two goals, one of those being the only goal scored in the Sonoma State game. That was the eighth goal of Frankland's three-year career and her fourth game winner.

Western is 3-0-1 in its series with Saint Martin's, the tie being 1-1 in overtime last fall. The Vikings are 25-10-4 overall against Central, winning both meetings last year.

Saint Martin's is 4-2-0, winning four of its last five games. The Saints' Jill Webb has five goals and one assist.

Central is 3-4-0, winning three of its last four contests. The Wildcats' Kaycie Hutchins has one goal and six assists and Monique Cornier has three goals and two assists.

On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Vikings are at Burnaby, B.C., to take on NAIA No.10-ranked Simon Fraser University.

Western was ranked No.12 in the NSCAA NCAA Division II National Preseason Poll.