BELLINGHAM, Wash.  – The Western Washington University men's soccer team opened its preseason schedule with a 3-1 victory over the University of Fraser Valley Saturday afternoon at Harrington Field.
 
WWU used 22 players in the game, using a fresh set of 11 players at the start of each 45-minute half. The Vikings got goals from newcomer Albin Jonsson, senior captain Teagan Eldridge and transfer forward Diego Alvarado.
 
The Vikings got off to a quick start when Jonsson (Skellefteå, Sweden) opened his WWU account in the 17th minute on a give-and-go from junior midfielder Kyota Hiate (Shiga, Japan).
 
UFV equalized in the 38th minute on a goal by Sahib Sidhu off a corner by Parman Minhas, but Western came right back with less than two minutes remaining in the half with a go-ahead goal at the 43:45 mark.
 
Eldridge (Enumclaw, WA) took a light touch from sophomore forward Eric Bunnell (Renton, WA) and beat a pair of defenders to setup his strong finish to the far post.
 
WWU's second half featured a strong defensive effort with a pair of saves by senior goalkeeper Patrick Restum (Okemos, MI).
 
Alvarado (Sunnyside, WA/Lincoln Memorial) gave the Vikings some insurance in the 84th minute off an assist by senior midfielder Johan Espinoza (East Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee Valley College). Espinoza intercepted a ball on a high press and sent a through ball to Alvarado, who beat the goalkeeper one-on-one with a strong move inside the box, setting up an easy finish.
 
The Vikings out-shot the Cascades 18-9 overall, with a 6-3 edge in shots on goal, and held a 7-6 edge in corner kicks.
 
WWU is back in action next Thursday (8/18) hosting Trinity Western in the second of three preseason exhibition matches. Kickoff against the Spartans is set for 2 pm at Harrington Field with free admission.
     

Western Washington 3, Fraser Valley 1
Preseason Exhibition Match
Date: August 13, 2022
Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA
Attendance: 151

Goals by period              1  2    Tot
-----------------------------------------
Fraser Valley..............  1  0  -  1
Western Washington.........  2  1  -  3

SCORING SUMMARY:
1.      16:12     WWU     Jonsson (Hiate)
2.      37:40     UFV     Sidhu (Minhas)
3.      43:45     WWU     Eldridge (Bunnell)
4.      83:09     WWU     Alvarado (Espinoza)

Shots: WWU 18, UFV 9
Shots on Goal: WWU 6, UFV 3
Saves: WWU 2 (Locke – 0, Restum - 2), UFV 3 (Cowx – 3, MacDonald - 0)
Corners: WWU 7, UFV 6
Fouls: UFV 13, WWU 11
Offsides: WWU 3, UFV 0
Kits: WWU (White), UFV (Black)

  The Vikings continue their preseason exhibition schedule next week hosting Trinity Western University on Thursday (8/18) with kickoff vs. the Spartans at 2 pm at Harrington Field. WWU will also travel to play the University of British Columbia in the preseason finale on August 20 (12 pm). The official start to the 2022 season will feature WWU taking on Sonoma State University on August 25 at Harrington Field with kickoff at 7 pm. The complete 2022 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/22_MSOC.
  The Western Washington University men's soccer program is led by head coach Greg Brisbon, who has spent over 20 seasons affiliated with WWU Soccer. The Vikings won the 2019 Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship, the third league trophy in program history, and advanced to the NCAA II Championships for the second time. The program completed 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.