CHICO, Calif. – Senior defender
Stephen Jinneman scored the lone goal of the game in the 32nd minute as the visiting Western Washington University men's soccer team earned a 1-0 victory over Chico State on Saturday evening at University Soccer Stadium.
WWU improved to 2-0-0 with the victory following a season-opening 4-3 overtime win against Sonoma State on Thursday. Chico State, a 2-0 winner in its season opener over Seattle Pacific on Thursday, dropped to 1-1-0 with the loss.
"Very similar to the previous game (at Sonoma State), they found a way to win," WWU head coach
Greg Brisbon said. "…Chico State is a very, very good team but we defended as a team and created a great opportunity to score."
Jinneman (Redmond, WA) was on the receiving end of a cross from sophomore midfielder
Georg Cholewa (Leipzig, Germany/Sportgymnasium Chemnitz) for the game-winning goal. Cholewa sent a cross from the right side that took one bounce in a crowded box and found Jinneman near the left post for a diving header into the net at the 31:14 mark.
"We got the ball in to their back post – great service from Georg and play from the other runners in the box creating confusion for them to defend it, it was a really nice goal," Brisbon said. "Overall, a good, hard-working performance by everybody."
Jinneman recorded his second goal of the season after netting an equalizing goal to help force overtime on a similar play in the second half at Sonoma State. Cholewa posted his second assist of the year after totaling an assist as well as the game-winning golden goal at Sonoma State.
WWU held off the Wildcats after halftime as Chico State created corner kick opportunities down the stretch and posted 9 shots (one on goal) in the second half. The Vikings, who finished second in the GNAC with 5 shutouts last season, earned their first shutout of 2018 on Saturday.
The Wildcats out-shot the Vikings 13-4 overall with each team putting a pair of shots on goal in the game. Chico State also had 11 corner kicks, including 8 in the second half and 5 over the last 10 minutes of the game, compared with 3 during the contest for the Vikings. But the WWU defense held strong and limited high-percentage scoring opportunities to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper
Brandon Wolter (Vancouver, WA/Union) made 2 saves in his WWU debut. Chico State goalkeeper Damion Lewis made 1 save.
The Vikings will play two more non-conference games in California next week, traveling to face No. 23 Point Loma on Sept. 6 (4:30 pm) and Azusa Pacific on Sept. 8 (2:30 pm). WWU will play its home opener at Harrington Field against Hawaii Hilo on Sept. 11 at 7 pm.
GAME NOTES: The Vikings are 2-0-0 to begin the regular season for the first time since 2007...WWU improved to 9-10-0 all-time vs. Chico State and faced Wildcats for third consecutive season…won second consecutive meeting in Chico (1-0 win in 2016, 3-2 - OT loss in Bellingham last season)…senior defender
Stephen Jinneman scored his second goal of the season while sophomore midfielder
Georg Cholewa totaled his second assist of the year (1 goal, 2 assists through 2 games)….WWU posted first shutout of 2018 (2nd in GNAC with 5 shutouts during 2017).
About WWU Soccer:
The Western Washington University men's soccer program enters its 39
th season at the varsity level in 2018 with head coach
Greg Brisbon in his sixth season leading the program. The program has recorded an overall record at or above the .500 mark in five of the last six seasons, combining to go 49-41-18 (.537) over this stretch. In 2016 the Vikings advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships for the first time in program history, using a late-season surge that saw the Vikings 5-0-1 over the last six matches to advance to the postseason. WWU beat 19
th-ranked Dixie State in the first round of the NCAA Championships 3-2 in overtime on a golden goal header. Overall the program has produced 39 GNAC Player of the Week, 25 First Team All-GNAC selections and 3 GNAC Players of the Year since joining the conference in 2001.
