BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Playing for the first time in nearly 500 days, the Western Washington University men's soccer team dropped its spring opener 1-0 to the University of Puget Sound Saturday night at Harrington Field.
 
Playing in its 12^th game of the season, UPS (4-6-2) got a 61^st minute goal from junior midfielder Cale Spence for the eventual game-winning score. The Vikings have had limited preseason practices leading up to the contest.
 
Both teams recorded 11 shots in the game, but UPS held a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal. Western held a slight 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
 
WWU sophomore goalkeeper Brandon Locke (Federal Way, WA/Todd Beamer) recorded four saves without allowing a goal and reserve Brandon Wolter (Vancouver, WA/Union) had one stop in the second half.
 
Spence broke the scoreless game with a goal at the 60:41 mark, taking a long pass from Marko Babiak into the box, where he fired a low crossing shot past Wolter for the lone score of the game.
 
UPS freshman goalkeeper Andrew Matheny made one save while recording the shutout.
  WWU is scheduled to play again in two weeks against Northwest University on Saturday, April 10 at 1 pm at Harrington Field.
 

Puget Sound 1, Western Washington 0
Date: March 27, 2021
Field: Harrington Field    Site: Bellingham, WA
Weather: 49-degrees, Clear

Goals by period            1  2    Tot
-----------------------------------------
Puget Sound..............  0  1  -  1
Western Washington.......  0  0  -  0

SCORING SUMMARY:
1.    60:41   UPS   Spence

Shots: WWU 11, UPS 11
Shots on Goal: UPS 6, WWU 1
Saves: WWU 5 (Locke – 4, Wolter - 1), UPS 1 (Matheny - 1)
Corners: WWU 4, UPS 2
Fouls: UPS 15, WWU 14 

Saturday's spring opener vs. UPS marked the first game action for the Vikings since November 23, 2019, an NCAA Division II Championships loss to St. Mary's in San Antonio Texas – a span of 490 days. Also the Vikings first game at Harrington Field since Senior Night on November 14, 2019 vs. Simon Fraser 499 days ago.
  The 2020-21 championship season currently features a seven-game schedule that will be played in late March, April and early May. Here is a look at the 2021 spring schedule for the Vikings, which is subject to changes and possible game additions. To view the most up-to-date schedule, with direct webcast and live stats links, visit WWUVikings.com/MSOC.
 

Date	Kickoff	Opponent	Location	Result
March 27 (Sat)	7:00 pm	Puget Sound	Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)	L, 1-0
April 10 (Sat)	1:00 pm	Northwest	Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
April 14 (Wed)	5:00 pm	Saint Martin's	Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
April 23 (Fri.)	5:00 pm	Tacoma Defiance	Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
May 1 (Sat)	3:00 pm	at Saint Martin's	Lacey, WA (SMU Soccer Field)
May 8 (Sat)	5:30 pm	at Seattle Pacific	Seattle, WA (Interbay Stadium)
May 15 (Sat)	1:00 pm	Seattle Pacific	Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)

  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.