BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Emma Hinson put together a performance of a lifetime, making 12 saves, with at least five coming from point-blank range, but No. 3 seed Western Washington was able to sneak one in to earn a 1-0 victory over No. 5 seed Point Loma in the NCAA West Regional Championship game.
 
The lone goal of the match came in the 27th minute off a free kick from 40 yards out. Peyton Chick sent the free kick into the box, and Emily Nelson was able to get the first head on it and direct it into the back of one of the defenders. When the ball hit the ground, Nelson was the first one on it. She slid into the ball and knocked it in from right in front of the net.
 
That goal seemed to break the Sea Lions out of their early match slump and they started to play a step faster. They created a few opportunities over the rest of the half and got a good look for Julia Glaser in the minute before halftime, but her attempt was thwarted by Vikings' goalkeeper Natalie Dierickx.
 
In the second half, Point Loma was much better and had a great chance at the equalizer in the 51st minute, but Jacqui Gerarden's shot was saved on a sprawling dive by Dierickx, who only kept the clean sheet by her fingernails. That would be the best look of the half, and the Sea Lions' only shot on goal in the final 45 minutes.
 
Emma Hinson had five saves first half, and she followed that up with another seven saves in the second half to eclipse her previous career-high by four saves. Dierickx had two saves for the Vikings.
 
Team Records
#5 Point Loma (14-5-2), #3 Western Washington (21-2-0)
 
Playoff Implications
Western Washington will move on to the round of 8. They will face Dixie State on Saturday at 3 p.m. for the right to advance to Pittsburgh. The loss knocks PLNU out of the NCAA playoffs.  

Words from Coach Kiely
Scoring Summary
26:38 - WWU GOAL: Emily Nelson (Peyton Chick) [WWU 1, PLNU 0]

News and Notes
> The 12 saves are the second-most in PLNU history 
> The 30 wins for the Sea Lions are the second-most for a two-year stretch in program history (21, 2011-12)
> The two wins in the regional are the most ever for a PacWest team
> This is the furthest PLNU has ever advanced in the NCAA playoffs
> This was the 17th straight win for WWU
 > Both playoff losses under coach Kiely have been by just one goal
> WWU scored 21 of their 58 goals on set plays, including the lone goal in this game
 
Next
This ends the 2019 season for the Point Loma women's soccer team.