BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's soccer team closed out its preseason schedule with a strong performance in a 2-1 victory over Pacific Lutheran University Sunday afternoon in exhibition play at Harrington Field.
 
The Vikings out-shot the Lutes 31-4 and held a 14-3 advantage in shots on goal to conclude its three-match preseason schedule. WWU played a pair of tight friendlies against Trinity Western (1-2) and British Columbia (0-2) before capping the exhibition slate. WWU officially opens the 2022 season Thursday hosting the University of Puget Sound at 4 pm at Harrington Field.
 
WWU opened the scoring in the 36th minute when junior forward Estera Levinte (Bothell, WA) flicked a header inside the left post off a well-placed corner by freshman forward Emily Rice (Portland, OR/Beaverton).
 
The Vikings doubled their lead to 2-0 midway through the second half when junior forward Ellie Busik (Happy Valley, OR/Grand Canyon Univ.) drilled a shot form 23-yards out into the upper right corner in the 67th minute.
 
PLU cut its deficit in half with a goal in the 80th minute by Meghan Michels.
 
WWU starting goalkeeper Claire Henninger (Sequim) made a pair of saves in 66 minutes and also made a pair of stops on the practice penalty kick round following the game. PLU starting goalkeeper Shaylin Cesar had eight saves for the Lutes.
 
All match statistics and the win/loss record from Sunday's exhibition match do not count towards the official standings and stats for the 2022 regular season.
   

Western Washington 2, PLU 1
Preseason Exhibition Match
Date: August 21, 2022
Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA
Attendance: 98

Goals by period              1  2    Tot
-----------------------------------------
Pacific Lutheran...........  0  1  -  1
Western Washington.........  1  1  -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:
1.      35:39     WWU     Levinte (Rice)
2.      66:39     WWU     Busik (A. Nguyen)
3.      79:56     PLU     Michels (Cecil)

Shots: WWU 31, PLU 4
Shots on Goal: WWU 14, PLU 3
Saves: WWU 2 (Henninger – 2, Wales - 0), PLU 11 (Cesar – 8, Winkler – 1, Singleton - 2)
Corners: WWU 8, PLU 4
Fouls: PLU 10, WWU 5
Offsides: WWU 1, PLU 0
Kits: WWU (Light Blue), PLU (Black)

  Following the conclusion of the 90-minute match, both teams lined up for a practice penalty kick round to help prepare for the 2022 season. WWU won the round 4-2, with Claire Henninger making a pair of saves. WWU's Caylie Etherington, Abby Succi, Ashley Nguyen and Claire Potter all converted their chances from the spot.
  The Vikings officially open the 2022 season on Thursday, August 25 hosting the University of Puget Sound with kickoff at 4 pm at Harrington Field. The complete 2022 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/22_WSOC.