Washington Opens Tournament With 3-0 Win

Friday, September 2

Seattle, Wash.

7:00 PM

University of Washington

3-1

Cal Poly

3-2

Cal Poly

Washington WSOC

September 02, 2016 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

SEATTLE – The Washington women's soccer team kicked off the Husky Nike Invitational with a stellar performance tonight, defeating Cal Poly 3-0 at Husky Soccer Stadium.

The Dawgs wasted no time getting on the board as Kimberly Keever scored her first goal on the season just over seven minutes into the game to give Washington the 1-0 lead. As Cal Poly looked to counter with a goal of their own, the UW defense stood strong led by junior goalkeeper Sarah Shimer, who recorded three saves in the match.

"Cal Poly is an athletic and skillful team that has a lot of speed," said Washington head coach Lesle Gallimore. "I can't say enough about how good Sarah Shimer was, that was a hard fought and hard earned shutout from our goalkeeper and our entire team defensively."

As the second half started Cal Poly continued to test the Husky defense, taking three corners and one shot in the first ten minutes. But on a Washington counter, Shannon Simon handled the ball at the top of the box, shaking off a Cal poly defender and sending a rocket into the back of the net for her second goal of the year.

Up 2-0, the Huskies were able to look to their reserves to help close out the win, as ten Dawgs came off the bench to play in the match.

"I think when you have an early season with lots of different moving parts and players, people start to get anxious about their minutes and playing time," said Gallimore. "This week was about everybody understanding their role in the moment and performing that role and not worrying about starting or finishing a game. We talk about team before everything and we mean it, your thoughts about yourself go out the window and you just perform for your team. I thought tonight was a great example of that."

With less than 15 minutes remaining in the match, freshman Asia Brisco came on for Rachel Wheeler at forward to make her Washington debut.

"I was on the bench and I was mentally preparing because I had a feeling I might go in," said Brisco. "When I subbed in for Rachel, I saw there were just a few minutes in the game left so I was going to give it my all."

Less than two minutes later, the Renton, Wash. native found herself at the point of a Husky attack as she was led with a pass in the box. Taking her first touch, the ball bounced off a Cal Poly defender and Brisco slid in front to shoot the ball into the back right corner of the goal, just past an outstretched keeper.

"When I got the ball, I took a touch toward the goal and just prayed it was in," said Brisco. "Then I heard everyone yelling so I assumed it was."

Washington was able to close out the match 3-0, giving Shimer her second shutout on the year.

The Huskies will play their second match of the tournament on Monday at 7 p.m. at Seattle, who drew 1-1 with Portland just before Washington took the field tonight. Cal Poly and Portland will play each other on Sunday at noon.