BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 5 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's soccer team was dealt just its second loss of the season in a 2-1 setback to Western Oregon University on a windy Thursday afternoon at Harrington Field.

The Vikings had their 13-game undefeated streak snapped by allowing a pair of second-half goals against the Wolves. WWU moved to 11-2-4 on the season and dropped its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference game of the season to stand at 10-1-2. The Vikings remain in first place in the GNAC and are one point away from clinching at least a share of their ninth GNAC regular-season title.

WOU improved to 7-6-4 overall and remained in the hunt for the fourth spot in the GNAC Championships at 4-6-3 in conference play. The Wolves have been ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation earlier this season.

WWU got on the board first early in the 36th minute when junior forward Estera Levinte scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season. Levinte took a short pass from senior midfielder Tera Ziemer and took a chance from 20-yards out that curled inside the left post for her fourth goal in the last five games.

Trailing 1-0 at the half, Western Oregon equalized in the 57th minute on a set-piece goal by Camille Darland. Elizabeth Parker dropped her corner kick into the box where Darland headed it home from close quarters.

The Wolves put home the eventual game-winner on an unfortunate play for the Vikings at the 77:24 mark in the game. WWU goalkeeper Claire Henninger was attempting to clear the ball off her line, but Chloe Smith deflected the ball that went directly into the goal.

WWU dominated the stat sheet holding a 22-3 advantage in shots and held a 9-3 lead in shots on goal. The Vikings also won seven corner kicks compared to the two of WOU. 

The Vikings had three shots hit off the post or crossbar in the second half, with WOU goalkeeper Darien Walton making a great save on a shot by Sophie Bearden Croft in the 77th minute just before the eventual game-winning goal. Walton made seven saves to help lift the Wolves to the victory.

WWU (11-2-4, 10-1-2 GNAC) completes the regular season Saturday with Senior Day against Saint Martin's (4 pm kickoff). The schedule for the four-team GNAC Championships that will be held November 3-5 in Nampa, Idaho will be announced Sunday afternoon. The complete 2022 season schedule with links to webcast info, live stats, updated statistics and team information is available at wwuvikings.com/22_WSOC.

Western Oregon 2, #5 Western Washington 1

Date: October 27, 2022

Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 133           Weather: Very Windy

Goals by period              1  2    Tot

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Western Oregon.............  0  2  -  2

#5 Western Washington......  1  0  -  1

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      35:01     WWU     Levinte (Ziemer)

2.      56:11     WOU     Darland (Parker)

3.      77:24     WOU     Smith

Shots: WWU 22, WOU 3

Shots on Goal: WWU 9, WOU 3

Saves: WWU 1 (Henninger – 1), WOU 8 (Walton - 7)

Corners: WWU 7, WOU 2

Fouls: WOU 8, WWU 6

Offsides: WWU 1, WOU 0

Kits: WWU (Navy), WOU (White)

Records: WWU (11-2-4, 10-1-2), WOU (7-6-4, 4-6-3)

Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2022 season:

Here is a look at the updated records of the eight GNAC programs play on Thursday. WWU holds a two-point lead in the standings heading into the final day of conference play on Saturday. WWU, NNU and Seattle Pacific have all secured a spot in the four-team GNAC Championships that will be held November 3-5 in Nampa, Idaho: