BURNABY, BC - The No. 7-ranked Western Washington Vikings (7-0-1, 2-0-0) escaped Terry Fox Field with a 1-0 win on Saturday night, as the SFU Clan women's soccer team (3-2-1, 1-1) gave their GNAC foes all they could handle.

The Clan came within inches of tying it up in the game's dying moments, as captain Olivia Aguiar made a terrific run down the middle of the park before unleashing a rocket that rang dead off the right post.

"[In the second half], the girls played like they believed we were going to score, and it really seemed like it was going to," said SFU assistant coach Anna Picarelli. "It was unfortunate that it didn't – the post didn't like us today."

Facing down a talented Vikings squad, SFU goalkeeper Priya Sandhu was excellent between the pipes, stopping 11 shots and forcing several other attempts wide.

"They are a very deep, very talented team," said Picarelli of the Vikings. "They're always one of the top teams in the country, but the effort all around that our girls showed today was excellent. They did everything we asked of them and more."

The Vikings outshot the Clan 8-2 in the opening 45 minutes, and turned one of those into the game's only goal 20 minutes into the contest. Elise Aylward did the damage for Western Washington, converting a centering feed from Gabriela Pelogi from less than five yards out.

"There was a momentary lapse there, but the response of the girls was incredible," noted Picarelli.

The Clan turned up the pace in the second half, blasting eight attempts towards WWU goalkeeper Ashley Homer, and creating several quality chances from quality scoring areas, the best of which belonged to Aguiar.

The Clan will have to dust themselves off quickly after this one, as they are set to face the Seattle Pacific University Falcons on Thursday, September 29. The two sides will square off at 4:30 pm at Terry Fox Field.