NAMPA, Idaho – In a battle of the two remaining unbeaten teams in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, Western Washington University and Northwest Nazarene University played to a scoreless tie Saturday afternoon at NNU Soccer Field.

 

The Vikings remained unbeaten at 3-0-1 in conference play and 4-1-3 overall while holding a decisive 11-4 advantage in shots (4-2 shots on goal). NNU also remained unbeaten in GNAC play at 3-0-1 and 5-1-2 overall.

 

"Today was a good battle between two good teams early in the conference season. We have a good conference and today both teams got better," said WWU head coach Travis Connell. "I am proud of our defensive effort today. We were really adaptable and played a very solid all-around game. We created some chances and it is unfortunate we couldn't get a goal, but it was a good result today on the road."

 

Junior goalkeeper Claire Henninger posted her second shutout of the season making a pair of saves, while senior midfielder Tera Ziemer, junior defender Katie Watt and freshman defender Asia Hardin each logged the full 90 to help keep the Nighthawks off the scoreboard.

 

In addition to holding a 11-4 advantage in shots, WWU was awarded 12 corner kicks compared to only one by NNU.

 

NNU goalkeeper Alexis Montoya made three saves with the Nighthawks also adding a team save in the 70th minute.

 

After playing three consecutive GNAC road contests, the Vikings return home next week to host Montana State Billings on Thursday (7 pm) and Seattle Pacific on Saturday (4 pm) at Harrington Field. 

 

Western Washington 0, Northwest Nazarene 0

Date: September 24, 2022

Field: NNU Soccer Field   Site: Nampa, ID

Attendance: 162

 

Goals by period              1  2    Tot

-----------------------------------------

Western Washington.........  0  0  -  0

Northwest Nazarene.........  0  0  -  0

 

Shots: WWU 11, NNU 4

Shots on Goal: WWU 4, NNU 2

Saves: WWU 2 (Henninger – 2), NNU 4 (Montoya - 3)

Corners: WWU 12, NNU 1

Fouls: WWU 8, NNU 3

Offsides: WWU 6, NNU 2

Kits: WWU (Black), NNU (White)

Records: WWU (4-1-3, 3-0-1), NNU (5-1-2, 3-0-1)

 

WWU continues to lead the all-time series vs. NNU 38-2-1 with a 17-2-1 record in games played in Nampa. The Vikings are 2-1-1 over the last four meetings vs. the Nighthawks, with each team winning on their home turf during the regular season last year.

 

The Vikings (4-1-3, 3-0-1 GNAC) return home to Harrington Field next week for a pair of games hosting Montana State Billings on Thursday (Sept. 29, 7 pm) and Seattle Pacific on Saturday (Oct. 1, 4 pm). The all home games feature a live webcast and statistical updates with direct links online via wwuvikings.com/22_WSOC.

 

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

 

 

Here is a look at the Vikings 2022 season schedule and results. WWU is 4-1-3 on the season and 3-0-1 in GNAC play:

 

 

There are likely to be a lot of tie games this season with new NCAA soccer rules for 2022 which eliminates overtime during the regular season. Any match that is tied at the 90-minute mark will now end that way, which means no overtime or golden goal scenarios. In the postseason, there will be overtime but no more golden goal; teams will play two full 10-minute extra periods regardless of any goals and if it is still tied, the advancing team will be decided on penalty kicks. Just for kicks, the WWU single-season record for ties is five set in 1981, and most recently four in 2009, 2010 and 2014 (WWU has three this season).

 

Fans can follow WWU women's soccer online at WWUVikings.com/WSoc, and via social media on Twitter (@WWU_WSoccer), Instagram (@wwu_wsoccer) and Facebook (@WWUsoccerwomens). 

 

The Western Washington University women's soccer program has risen to the top of the Division II ranks, with a string of nine consecutive appearances in the NCAA Championships. WWU has advanced to the NCAA II Final Four in four of the last eight seasons and played for the West Region championship in eight of the last nine seasons (six consecutive). The Vikings played for the 2019 national title and won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016 with an undefeated 24-0-1 record, beating three-time defending national champion Grand Valley State 3-2 in the title game in Kansas City, Missouri. Including the national championship run, the Vikings put together a 39-game winning streak (4th-longest in NCAA II history) and a 40-game unbeaten streak. The program has claimed seven of the last nine Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season titles and won four of the last five GNAC Tournament titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019). Head coach Travis Connell is in his 20th season leading the program in 2022 (27th overall at WWU) and has led the Vikings to 11 trips to the NCAA Championships (9 straight) and 28 consecutive winning seasons. He picked up his 400th career victory October 16, 2021 vs. Simon Fraser. WWU finished the 2019 season with a 23-3-0 record, winning the West Regional title and played in the national championship game falling 1-0 to Grand Valley State. Over the last eight seasons (since 2015), the Vikings have combined for a 126-17-11 (.854) record. WWU's 179 wins during the 2010s decade were the 6^th-most out of 1,043 NCAA women's soccer programs.