BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team scored in each half with goals from senior midfielder Drew Barker and freshman midfielder Teagan Eldridge for a 2-0 victory over visiting Concordia on Saturday night at Harrington Field in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.
 
The Vikings picked up their first conference victory and third shutout of the season to halt a two-game losing skid, improving to 5-4-0 overall and 1-2-0 in GNAC play. The Cavaliers (3-4-1, 1-2-0 GNAC) suffered their second consecutive loss after opening the conference schedule with a win at Seattle Pacific last week before dropping games to No. 1 nationally-ranked Simon Fraser on Thursday (1-0) and WWU on Saturday.
 
Barker (Tacoma, WA/Bellarmine Prep) gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute and Eldridge (Enumclaw, WA) doubled the WWU lead in the 52nd minute while the WWU defense held the Cavaliers to 2 shots on goal in the game.
 
"I thought it was a really good performance by the team tonight," head coach Greg Brisbon said. "We've been working on some things this week in practice, on both sides of the ball, and they executed those very well so, as a coach, that's what it's really all about."
 
Barker scored his first goal of the season at the 16:56 mark with assists to junior forwards Christian Rotter (Auburn, WA/Auburn Mountainview) and Ryan Schaefer (Burien, WA/Kennedy Catholic/Denver). Rotter sent a pass up to Schaefer in the box, who was able to turn and find Barker in the middle of the box for a finish from 14 yards away.
 
Eldridge netted his first collegiate goal in the 52nd minute, scoring to an open net after the ball got away from Concordia goalkeeper Grant Alcorn. A long pass up into the box intended for Eldridge from sophomore midfielder Drew Farnsworth (Auckland, New Zealand/Westlake Boys) was approached by Alcorn, who stopped the pass with a slide but was unable to corral the ball. Eldridge got to the loose ball and was able to score from the left side of the box.
 
"Drew Barker and Teagan Eldridge were a great help scoring the goals, and there is less pressure on our backline when they do that," Brisbon said. "We're looking forward to our road trip this coming week."
 
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Brandon Wolter (Vancouver, WA/Union) made 2 saves in posting his third shutout of the year. Alcorn finished with 3 saves for the Cavaliers.
 
The Vikings generated 5 shots on frame compared with 2 for the Cavaliers. WWU held a slight edge in total shots, 12-10, while Concordia held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.
 
After playing four of their last five games at home, the Vikings head out on the road for their next four contests. The road trip begins next week with games at MSU Billings (Oct. 4, 1 pm MT) and Northwest Nazarene (Oct 6, 4 pm MT).
 
GAME NOTES: WWU improved to 8-6-1 all-time vs. Concordia and 4-2-1 against the Cavaliers since 2015…teams split the season series last year…Drew Barker scored his fourth career goal and first since Sept. 24, 2016 (redshirted the 2017 season)…Teagan Eldridge scored his first collegiate goal…WWU recorded its third shutout of the season.
 
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.