Box Score NAMPA, Idaho – It had been more than a month since the Western Washington Vikings women's soccer team had allowed a goal.

Northwest Nazarene junior Madi Taylor broke up that streak 20 seconds into the second half with a cheeky chip over the goalkeeper, but it wasn't enough as the Nighthawks fell 3-1 to the defending national champions.

"They are a hard team to score on," NNU coach Mary Trigg said. "They haven't given up a lot of goals, that is for sure. I think anyone who knows soccer knows that was an even game. We were going at them, especially in the second half.

"They are a team that is undefeated for a reason. They capitalize on your mistakes and we made three mistakes."

The second-ranked Vikings (15-0-0, 11-0-0 GNAC) had earned seven consecutive shutouts and hadn't allowed a goal since a 6-1 victory at Saint Martin's on September 23.
In the 46th minute, though, Taylor found herself alone in space on the right side and chipped Western keeper Ashley Homer, who was left flat-footed.

Taylor had a second opportunity minutes later but her shot found the crossbar to keep the Vikings in front, 2-1.

"I think our girls took a lot of confidence," Trigg said, "because we weren't just packing it in and trying to defend. We were going at them and there were chances to tie it up a bunch of times.

"If we clean up those little mistakes that we created on our own, then it is a whole (different) ballgame."

NNU (10-6-0, 7-4-0), which earned its first playoff berth in program history last weekend, showed throughout the match that the Nighthawks belonged on the same field as the Vikings. Western came into the game having allowed just three goals all season and seemed a bit stunned after Taylor's shot.

The Nighthawks had a few more opportunities, but the Vikings put the game away late on a clean breakaway by Gabriela Pelogi who scored her 14th goal on the season.

Western scored in the 25th minute on an own goal that came off of a cross that deflected in off of an NNU defender. The Vikings made it 2-0 on a goal by Grace Eversaul in the 30th, before Taylor made it a game in the 46th.

NNU hosts Saint Martin's at 1 p.m. Saturday in the final game of the regular season.