BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Hawai'i Hilo forward Matt Wilkinson scored the lone goal of the match in the 63rd minute as the Vulcans claimed a 1-0 victory over the Western Washington University men's soccer team on Tuesday night at Harrington Field.
 
The 24th-ranked Vikings, playing their regular season home opener, dropped to 3-2-0 with the loss while the Vulcans were playing their first game of the season to improve to 1-0-0.
 
WWU had the vast majority of the offensive opportunities with a dominating 29-3 advantage in shots, including a 6-3 edge in shots on goal, but it was the Vulcans finding the back of the net with their second shot of the contest at the 62:09 mark for the lone goal of the game.
 
"We dominated stat-wise, but give credit to Hilo," head coach Greg Brisbon said. "They had a good game plan and executed on their chance they got and we failed to execute on the many chances we created. Soccer is funny that way but we have to do a better job in the final third, in all aspects, if we're going to win games this year."
 
The goal came when Wilkinson received a cross from the left side at the 6-yard box and was able to turn after receiving the pass and fire to the far post with a left-footed finish. Midfielder Alen Acosta assisted the goal with a low cross from near the end line.
 
The Vikings had an 8-0 advantage in shots over the final 20 minutes of the game but were unable to find the equalizer. 

At halftime, WWU held a 12-0 advantage in shots (5-0 in shots on goal). The Vikings set a season-high mark for total shots in the game and the 6 shots on goal were tied for 2nd-most for WWU in a game this season
 
WWU freshman goalkeeper Brandon Wolter (Vancouver, WA/Union) made 2 saves for the Vikings.
 
Hawai'i Hilo goalkeeper Nick Williams recorded 5 saves, including a pair of diving stops, in the shutout effort. The defense was also credited with a team save in the game.
 
WWU closes out the non-conference schedule on Saturday, hosting Hawai'i Pacific at 7 pm. The GNAC schedule begins Sept. 20 at Saint Martin's before WWU returns home to host Montana State Billings (Sept. 22, 7 pm).
 
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.