BILLINGS, Mont.  – The Western Washington University men's soccer recorded a hard-fought 1-1 draw on the road against Montana State Billings Thursday afternoon in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.
 
After surrendering an early goal in the first 12 minutes of the game, the Vikings found a late equalizer in the 84th minute on a header goal by senior forward Alex Whiting. Both teams were unable to score in the 20-minute overtime period to close out the 1-1 time.
 
WWU had its three-game winning streak snapped to drop to 7-7-1 overall and 5-2-1 in GNAC play (16 points). The Vikings began the day tied for first place in the conference standings with Simon Fraser, who plays Seattle Pacific this evening. Over their last seven matches the Vikings are 5-1-1, but Thursday's tie dropped the season road record to 2-5-1. MSUB recorded its second straight 1-1 tie to move to 3-7-3 overall and 1-4-2 in conference play.
 
"It was a tough game today. We did well to come back and tie the game late, but just not enough to secure the win," said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. "We had plenty of opportunities…it just was not our day."
 
The Vikings had the first early scoring opportunity just past the four-minute mark in the match. Defender Teagan Eldridge sent a cross into the box that midfielder Drew Farnsworth timed well with a diving header, but his attempt was just off the mark to the right of the post.
 
MSUB generated their own scoring chance in the 12th minute on a weird play that transpired just outside of the box. The Yellowjackets sent a long ball into WWU territory with goalkeeper Brandon Locke coming off his line in attempt to clear the ball. Locke and MSUB forward Halil Yilmaz collided, with the ball deflecting into open space outside the right part of the box. Marvin Putu collected the loose ball and fired a looping shot from 24-yards out into the open goal that just scooted under the crossbar to put the Yellowjackets up 1-0.
 
The Yellowjackets went a man down in the 28th minute when Valdemar Fogt was issued a straight red card with over 17 minutes remaining in the first half.
 
The Vikings found the late equalizer in the 84th minute off a free kick from 35-yards out by Gus Diehl. The junior midfielder swung a ball into the box with his right foot, with Theo Steinmetz redirecting the free kick with a header across the box finding Whiting with another header that snuck inside the right post with just over six minutes remaining in regulation.
 
With time in regulation winding down, forward Eric Bunnell broke free streaking down the field off a through ball by Gilbert De La Luz. Bunnell beat his defender in a dead sprint and fired a hard low shot from 16 yards out that was saved by MSUB goalkeeper Connor Trapp.
 
Western thought they had a golden goal four minutes into the first overtime period when Bunnell pounded home a saved shot off the foot of Whiting, but he was called offsides on the play. The Vikings had another late scoring chance in the 108th minute when Drew Farnsworth had an open look inside the box after a nifty pass by De La Luz, but his shot skied over the crossbar.
 
The Vikings held a decisive 23-8 advantage in shots, but only four of those were on frame, with three saved by Trapp. Western also held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.
  WWU (7-7-1, 5-2-1 GNAC) remain on the road facing rival Seattle Pacific on Saturday night at Interbay Stadium with kickoff at 7 pm. View the complete 2021 schedule at wwuvikings.com/MSOC, complete with webcast and live stats links.
 

Western Washington 1, Montana State Billings 1 (2 OT)
Date: November 4, 2021
Field: YellowJacket Soccer Field       Site: Billings, MT
Att: 125
 
Goals by period              1  2  OT  OT    Tot
-------------------------------------------------
Western Washington.........  0  1  0   0  -  1
Montana St. Billings.......  1  0  0   0  -  1
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1.        11:51      MSUB     Putu1
2.        83:32      WWU      Whiting (Diehl, Steinmetz)
 
Shots: WWU 23, MSUB 8
Shots on Goal: WWU 4, MSUB 2
Saves: WWU 1 (Locke - 1), MSUB 3 (Trapp - 3)
Corners: WWU 7, MSUB 2
Fouls: MSUB 13, WWU 11
Yellow Cards: MSUB 1, WWU 0
Offsides: WWU 6, MSUB 1
Kits: WWU (Black), MSUB (White)

  WWU went 1-0-1 vs. MSU Billings this season, also recording a 3-1 win at home on October 16 at Harrington Field. With Thursday's draw, WWU extended its unbeaten streak vs. MSUB to five consecutive matches (3-0-2), but had a three-game winning streak snapped. The Vikings lead the all-time series 21-11-3 with a 6-5-3 record in matches played in Billings.
  Fans can follow WWU men's soccer online at WWUVikings.com/MSOC, and via social media on Twitter (@SoccerWWU), Instagram (@wwu_msoccer) and Facebook (@WWUsoccermens). All home matches feature a live webcast, as well as most road matches, with links on how to follow the games available at WWUVikings.com/Live.
  The Western Washington University men's soccer program is led by ninth-year head coach Greg Brisbon, who has spent over 20 seasons affiliated with WWU Soccer. The Vikings are the defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions, winning the 2019 title for the third league trophy in program history, and advanced to the NCAA II Championships for the second time. The program is in its 42nd varsity season in 2021, and has recorded an overall record at or above the .500 mark in eight of the last nine seasons, including a 13-5-1 mark in 2019 and 11-6-1 in 2018. 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. Overall the program has produced 58 GNAC Players of the Week selections, 30 First Team All-GNAC players and 4 GNAC Players of the Year since joining the conference in 2001. Off the field, WWU has built a strong academic reputation with 60 GNAC All-Academic selections over the last five years and the program has earned three consecutive United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards.