Oct. 28, 2010

Box Score

BILLINGS, Mont. - Forward Andrew Weishaar (Fr., Puyallup) scored the game-winning goal with 15 minutes left as Western Washington University rallied from a halftime deficit to claim a 2-1 victory over Montana State University Billings in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer game Thursday at Yellowjacket Field.

Forward Gibson Bardsley (Sr., Fall City/Mount Si) had a goal and an assist for Western, which improved to 7-6-2 overall and 2-4-1 in the GNAC with its fourth win in six games.

MSUB, which was opening a four-game home stand, dropped to 7-7-1 overall and 2-6-0 in conference play.

Chris Andre had given the Yellowjackets, who had a 9-6 advantage in shot attempts in the first half, the lead in the 36th minute on a free kick.

But the Vikings equalized 35 seconds into the second half, as Bardsley scored his GNAC-leading 15th goal of the year, heading home a Cristian Geday (Sr., Vancouver/Skyview) free kick. Oscar Jimenez (Jr., Mount Vernon) also was credited with an assist.

Bardsley also set up the game-winner. After being fouled near the left sideline, he quickly restarted play with a through ball to Weishaar, who beat a defender and scored from 15 yards out. It eas Weishaar's sixth goal of the season.

"It was a heady play by Gibson to realize we had advantage and play quickly," said Western coach Travis Connell. "He had a really good game today; he scored and did all the things you want your seniors to do."

Bardsley, who entered the game ranked second nationally among NCAA Division II scoring leaders in goals per game (1.08), now has 38 goals in his career. He needs three more in the Vikings' final three games to tie the school record of 41 held by Peter LaBarge (1989-90).

Western, which lost to MSUB, 3-2, on Sept. 25, ended up with a 12-11 advantage in shot attempts, having a 6-2 edge after halftime.

"We made some good adjustments at halftime," Connell said. "Our midfielders and forwards turned the game in our favor in the second half."

Goalkeeper Leo Cohen (R-Fr., Seattle/Roosevelt) had five saves for the Vikings. Western entertains Northwest Nazarene University on Saturday (7 p.m.) in a GNAC contest.

Western Washington vs. Montana State BillingsDate: 10/28/10  Attendance: 101Goals by Period         1  2    TotalWestern Washington      0  2 ---  2Montana State Billings  1  0 ---  1SCORING SUMMARY:MSUB - Andre (Unassisted), 35:04WWU - Bardsley (Geday, Jimenez), 45:35WWU - Weishaar (Bardsley), 75:04Shots: Western Washington 12, MSUB 11Corner kicks: Western Washington 5, MSUB 1Fouls: Western Washington 10, MSUB 9Saves: Western Washington 5 (Cohen 5), MSUB 1 (Mitchell 1)