BELLINGHAM, Wash.  – The Western Washington University men's soccer team opened the 2022 season with a 0-0 tie against West Region rival Sonoma State University Thursday evening at Harrington Field.
 
The Vikings and Seawolves clashed in a defensive battle with both teams combining for only three shots on goal. Under new NCAA soccer rules for 2022, the regular-season match did not feature any overtime periods with the final result made official after 90 minutes
 
WWU's best scoring chance came late in the first half when senior Alessandro Tomasi got a shot off inside the six-yard box, but wasn't able to get enough on his kick to get it past the SSU goalkeeper.
 
The Vikings backline gave a standout performance allowing SSU only one shot on goal. Junior defenders Mitchell Hutter and Theo Steinmetz both played all 90 minutes anchoring the strong defensive effort.
 
Sonoma State held a 11-8 advantage in total shots and had nine corner kicks compared to WWU's four.
 
The Vikings (0-0-1) will be back in action Saturday hosting Chico State University (0-0-1) in a 7 pm game at Harrington Field. Chico State and Seattle Pacific also played to a 0-0 tie Thursday night at Seattle's Interbay Stadium.
   

Western Washington 0, Sonoma State 0
2022 Season Opener
Date: August 25, 2022
Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA
Attendance: 145

Goals by period              1  2    Tot
-----------------------------------------
Sonoma State...............  0  0  -  0
Western Washington.........  0  0  -  0

Shots: SSU 11, WWU 8
Shots on Goal: WWU 2, SSU 1
Saves: WWU 1 (Restum - 1), SSU 2 (Ter Riet - 2)
Corners: SSU 9, WWU 4
Fouls: SSU 13, WWU 10
Offsides: WWU 4, SSU 1
Kits: WWU (Navy), SSU (White)

  WWU will host Chico State Saturday under the lights with kickoff at 7 pm at Harrington Field. The complete 2022 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/22_MSOC.