Sept. 20, 2014 Box Score BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Luke Olney(Fr., Enumclaw) scored the opening goal as Western Washington University played nationally ranked Simon Fraser University to a 1-1 tie Saturday night in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer opener at Harrington Field on the WWU campus.
The Vikings are now 2-2-1 overall. WWU upset then No.2-ranked Simon Fraser in their last meeting, 3-0, in the final game of the 2013 season
Simon Fraser, which has reached the NCAA Division II national semifinals the last two years and is ranked No.17 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, is now 2-2-1.
Olney's first collegiate goal came in the 73rd minute after a ball deflected in the penalty went high in the air and came down near the freshman, alone 10 yards out. His volley attempt went low along the ground, going under SFU goalkeeper Brandon Watson and inside the right post.
The Clan equalized less than two minutes later, as a free kick from near the center line by Robert Hyams was headed in from 10 yards by Jovan Blagojevic.
Blagojevic nearly scored a game-winner at the end of the first overtime period as his free kick from 30 yards deflected off the wall and forced WWU goalkeeper Keegan Rogers (Sr., Portland, OR/Portland Christian) to push the ball around the ball around the right post as time expired.
Olney had Western's best chance of overtime, a shot under pressure from 15 yards with 2:35 left that went high.
SFU had a 22-5 advantage in shot attempts, but Rogers was forced to make just three saves in preserving the result.
In the 96th minute, SFU nearly scored off a wild goalmouth scramble, but the Vikings forced the ball out for a corner, and Rogers cleanly caught the ensuing kick.
The Vikings had the first good chance in the 30th minute, when Tye Hastings' (Sr., Mill Creek/Jackson) slid to get on the end of a low cross by Gabi Zaccagnini, but his deflection from seven yards was saved by Watson.
The Clan had two good chances in the final six minutes of the first half, with a deflection being cleared off the line in the 39th minute, and then a drive by Joseph Martin from 15 yards on the right in the 42nd minute was saved by Rogers.
Rogers' toughest stop came in the 72nd minute, when he came off his line to block an attempt by Joseph Martin.
The Vikings complete their five-game home stand with GNAC contests against Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Sept. 25 (7 p.m.) and Montana State Billings on Saturday, Sept. 27 (7 p.m.)
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014Bellingham, Wash., Harrington Field, WWU campus
Western Washington 1, Simon Fraser 1 Overtime
Scoring - 1. WWU, Luke Olney, 75:35. 2. SFU Jovan Blagojevic(Robert Hyams),77:25.
Shots - WWU 5, SFU 22Saves - WWU 3 (Keegan Rogers 3); SFU 1 (Brandon Watson 1)Corner kicks - WWU 2, SFU 9Fouls - WWU 14, SFU 15Attendance: 417
