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HILLSBORO, Ore. — With a 1-0 win over Utah Valley in its 2014 season-opener Friday, the Portland State women's soccer team broke the Big Sky record for longest unbeaten streak, extending their streak to 14 matches.
 
The Vikings broke Weber State's 16-year record with their win Friday, as Weber State originally set the mark at 13 during the 1998 season. Additionally, the Vikings have won 11 of their 14 matches over their current unbeaten streak, including their 1-0 win over the Wolverines Friday.
 
"The unbeaten streak record is pretty special," PSU head coach Laura Schott. "It's stood for a long time and our team has worked hard to earn it. There aren't many athletes that go that long without a loss in their careers."
 
A 13th-minute penalty kick from freshman forward Mackenzie Bean proved the difference for the Vikings Friday, as the team continued its pattern from the end of last season of winning tight matches behind the strength of its defense.
 
The Vikings (1-0-0) held the Wolverines to just two shots Friday, matching the lowest shot total by an opponent during the Vikings' 2013 season, when the team set single-season school records for shutouts and goals-against average.
 
Friday's defensive performance also continues the Vikings' shutout streak from last season, as the team has now not allowed a goal over its last 478:08 of match time.
 
Junior goalkeeper Angela Haluska anchored the Vikings' defensive effort Friday, as she earned the shutout in just her second career start in goal. Haluska also picked up her first career goalkeeper win Friday, and picked up a save off Utah Valley shot in the 29th minute.
 
Additionally, Haluska and the rest of the Vikings' defense limited the Wolverines to just one shot in each half, including an 11-1 shot advantage in the first half alone.
 
Bean's goal helped spur the Vikings' onslaught in the first half, as she put the Vikings up early with her penalty kick. Bean not only took the penalty, but also earned it for the Vikings, after she got tripped in the box by a Utah Valley defender.
 
"Mac earned the goal," Schott said. "It's a good start to her career."
 
With the goal, Bean starts her PSU career off with a game-winner, and for the time being becomes the Vikings' leading scorer as a freshman.
 
The Vikings' youth shined overall in the win Friday, as eight of the team's 16 players in the match were freshmen or sophomores. Additionally, Bean and defender Maddie Prehoda each started as freshmen for the Vikings, while fellow freshmenZoe Vincini and Katie Forsee played key roles as reserves in the match.
 
Prehoda was the one freshman to go the full 90 minutes, as she integrated herself seamlessly with the Vikings' veteran backline.
 
"Madie's attacking ability out of the back was a difference-maker for us today," Schott said. "I'm looking forward to more of those moments this year."
 
Forsee also had the Vikings' best chance at a second goal Friday, as she got her head on the end of a corner from sophomore midfielder Aurora Bodenhamer in the 66th minute. Forsee's header got past the Wolverines' goalkeeper, but Wolverine defender Sara Ranck was there to bail her team out with a clearance off the line.

Senior midfielder Ariana Cooley also had a good look at a possible second goal in the 87th minute, when the Vikings were awarded a free kick just outside the box after Utah Valley's goalkeeper stepped out of the penalty area on a drop kick. Cooley sent the ensuing free kick directly on goal, but her shot bounced off the frame.
 
Ultimately, the Viking defense helped make the lack of a second goal a non-issue, though the Vikings were left to worry in the 39th minute when Utah Valley's Sheridan Fox got past the defense with a long build up on the left-hand side of the field. Fox dribbled past several defenders to get herself just off the left post, and then sent a dangerous cross across the face of the Vikings' goal. Fortunately for Portland State, no other Wolverine was able to get on the end of Fox's cross, and the ball was cleared away harmlessly.
 
The Vikings' will take Friday's victory into their match against Boise State Sunday, which will close the PSU Tournament. The Vikings and the Broncos kick off at 1 p.m. (PT) Sunday, following Drake and Utah Valley's match at 10 a.m. (PT).
 
The Vikings' match against the Broncos should have added weight to it after the Vikings' recorded their first-ever victory over the Broncos with a golden goal three seconds before the end of the second overtime period in the team's last match against each on Sept. 7, 2012.
 
Match Notes: The Vikings took the lead in the all-time series between Portland State and Utah Valley with Friday's win, as they move to 3-2-1 against the Wolverines…In addition to their current overall shutout streak, the Vikings also extended their home shutout streak to 363:33 Friday…Besides the freshmen, redshirt-sophomore midfielder Whitney Hilde also started her first career match Friday.

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