BURNABY, B.C. – Kaiden Sherwood (Vernon, B.C.) scored the SFU Red Leafs' goal on Saturday evening at Terry Fox Field, as they fell short 2-1 to the visiting Western Washington Vikings, who were paced by a brace from midfielder Morgan Manalili.
 
"The group showed a tremendous amount of character today and kept battling until the very end," said SFU interim head coach Carlo Basso. "We got beat by a couple moments of excellence, and that's what the top teams can do to you."
 
The Vikings (7-3-3, 5-1-2 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) scored first midway through the second half. Claire Potter, the sophomore midfielder, delivered a cross into the middle of the pitch. Manalili was in perfect position, and connected on her header that soared past Sarah Loewen (Burnaby, B.C.), goalkeeper for the Red Leafs (4-4-2, 3-4-1 GNAC).
 
At the game's 66-minute mark, it was Manalili again to put WWU up 2-0. After Gracen Crosby was tripped up in jostling for a loose ball, the Vikings sophomore stepped to the spot on the ensuing free kick. From about 24 yards out, Manalili struck, clearing the SFU wall and putting a rocket just under the bar at the top right corner.
 
The Red Leafs got back to within a goal eight minutes later. Port Coquitlam, B.C., rookie Alyssa Clark's (corner from the left flank forced Henninger to try and knock it away from a crowded box. However, Clark's ball dropped just outside the 'keeper's outstretched arm and fell into the scoring area. After a couple of bounces, the ball found its way to Sherwood, who made no mistake from in tight, with only a pair of Vikings defenders standing between her and the net. It was her second goal of the campaign.
 

WWU had a 9-7 edge in shots but SFU had more attempts on net, 5-3, and each team earned five corner kicks. Freshman midfielder Jensa Napier-Ganley (Cobble Hill, B.C.) led the home side with two shots.
 
After going 2-2 during their four-game home stretch over the past two weeks, the Red Leafs will now head out on the road. SFU will start off with a clash against the Central Washington Wildcats on Thursday, October 19 before heading down to Idaho to take on the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks on Saturday, October 21. The games are set to kick off at 3 p.m. PT and 12 noon PT, respectively. The Red Leafs beat Central Washington 4-0 last week at home, and shutout NNU 1-0.

For the latest information on SFU Athletics, visit athletics.sfu.ca. You can also find us on social media at @SFU_Athletics.

#RepTheLeaf