GNAC Player of the Year Morgan Manalili scored a last-second, game-tying goal to help lead the Vikings to a 2-1 semifinal win over Seattle Pacific on Thursday night at Terry Fox Field.
GNAC Player of the Year Morgan Manalili scored a last-second, game-tying goal to help lead the Vikings to a 2-1 semifinal win over Seattle Pacific on Thursday night at Terry Fox Field.

Manalili’s stunner, Walker’s winner puts Vikings in final

11/13/2025 6:01:02 PM

By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

BURNABY, B.C. – Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year Morgan Manalili rescued top-seed Western Washington at the death of Thursday’s semifinal tilt against No. 4 seed Seattle Pacific with a heroic header goal, setting the stage for the Vikings’ 2-1, double-overtime victory.
 
With WWU trailing 1-0 and five seconds left on the clock, Manalili got on the end of an Emily Rice free-kick service and pulled her team level at the last possible moment. Then three minutes into the second overtime period, it was a cross off Manalili’s foot that found GNAC Newcomer of the Year Reese Walker who slotted home the golden goal to push the Vikings through to their 13th consecutive conference tournament title match.
 
The stunning finish from Manalili was her 17th of the year, as she tied the conference single-season record in one of the biggest moments of her career. Western Washington improved to 14-1-1 on the season with the win, and will await the winner of the second semifinal match between No. 3 seed Western Oregon and No. 2 seed Simon Fraser, which kicks off at 6:10 p.m. Thursday.
 
The Falcons’ season ended at 8-5-7 in heartbreaking fashion, as they were just seconds away from earning their place in the title match. Grace Coston scored her first collegiate goal in the 35th minute to stake SPU to a first-half lead, and SPU’s back line defended magnificently throughout the match. The Falcons drew the Vikings offside nine times, as a back line led by Emily Morandi, Ella Smith, Ashlyn Valdovinos and Sophie Hanay thwarted the Viking attack throughout the match. Mercedes Cullen had one of the game’s biggest moments just second before halftime, leaping backwards to deflect an on-target try by Mie Cairns just wide of the far post to keep the score at 1-0.
 
WWU freshman goalkeeper Ellie McGowan had an equally crucial denial midway through the second half, using every inch of her 6-foot frame to leap and snag an on-target try SPU captain Maya Parman in the 73rd minute.
 
WWU’s Asia Hardin tied the GNAC career record with the 88th start of her tenure at WWU, which began in 2022.