ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team allowed a pair of second-half goals in a 2-0 defeat Saturday against Sonoma State University.
 
The Vikings dropped to 0-2-0 on the season, suffering their second shutout defeat of the young season. WWU dropped the 2021 season opener Thursday at Chico State 1-0.
 
"It was a difficult day for us in the heat to find the right rotations," said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. "We had a good first half with some solid chances, we just could not cash in. Sonoma is a good team, and they took advantage of their chances in the second half. We are going to get back after it and work on getting better before our next matches."
 
After a scoreless first-half battle, Sonoma State forged ahead in the 53^rd minute when Brian Field headed home a goal from close quarters after a long cross into the box by Sean Rohane. WWU goalkeeper Brandon Wolter came off his line to defend the high cross, but Field beat him to the ball and headed home for the go-ahead goal.
 
The Seawolves put the game away in the 78^th minute on a goal by Mateo Paqua, who gathered a long pass that inched through the WWU defense, and slotted home a right-footed shot to the far post at the 77:19 mark.
 
Sonoma State powered past the Vikings in the second half, holding a 14-3 edge in shots, including a 6-0 margin in shots on goal. Western played SSU tough in the opening 45 minutes, with each team recording four shots and the Vikings holding a 3-0 advantage in corners.
 
The Vikings had a couple of scoring chances in the scoreless first half. Forward Gilbert De La Luz got behind the defense in the 39^th minute and fired a low hard shot that was smothered by the SSU goalkeeper after coming off his line.
 
WWU had a fleury of offensive activity over the last three minutes of the half, with a free kick opportunity following a yellow card just outside of the box and a last-second shot by Alec Zimmerman that just eluded the far (right) post.
  The Vikings were playing without senior center back Camron Miller, who was issued a red card in Thursday's season opener at Chico State and served his one-game suspension…WWU has been shutout in consecutive games to open a season for the first time since the 2005 season (1-0 loss at Cal State LA, 3-0 loss at Cal State Dominguez Hills)…Brandon Wolter made a career-high six saves (previous: 5, 2x, last: Oct. 5, 2018 at Northwest Nazarene).
  WWU (0-2-0) will take next weekend off, and then make its 2021 Harrington Field debut hosting No. 8 nationally-ranked Colorado School of Mines on Thursday, September 16 (7 pm kickoff). WWU will then entertain Regis on Saturday, September 18 as part of a WWU Soccer doubleheader with the women's team hosting Biola at 7 pm. The full 17-match 2021 regular season schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/21_MSOC.