BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team has only one conference match this week, but it is a big one with the Vikings matching up against GNAC-leading Western Oregon on Thursday.

 

The Vikings (4-4-2 overall, 1-2-1 GNAC) face the upstart Wolves who are 6-2-1 overall and off to a 3-0-1 start to conference play to lead the table with 10 points. Thursday's game in Monmouth, Oregon features a noon kickoff on the WOU Turf Field.

 

WWU is coming off a 1-1-0 week defeating Seattle Pacific 2-0 at Harrington Field and falling to Simon Fraser 3-1 on the road. The Vikings are 1-2-1 in conference play to sit in a tie for 3rd place in the conference standings.

 

The Vikings have eight regular-season games remaining, with four at home and four on the road. WWU has been a great home team this season with a 3-1-0 record at Harrington Field and is 1-3-2 away from Bellingham.

 

Following the road trip to Oregon, the Vikings return to Harrington Field for three consecutive home games beginning by hosting Montana State Billings on Thursday, October 19 at 7 pm. 

 

The Vikings are led by a stingy defense that ranks 2nd in the GNAC with a 0.90 goals against average, with senior goalkeeper Brandon Locke tying for the conference lead with four shutouts. Sophomore forward Albin Jonsson has recorded three game-winning goals and leads the team with five total goals. 

 

The complete 2023 season schedule – complete with links to follow all the matches, statistics and player bios – can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/23_MSOC.

 

 

News and notes on the 2023 WWU Men's Soccer team:

 

• The Record – 4-4-2 overall, 1-2-1 GNAC, 3-1-0 at Harrington Field, 1-3-2 on the road.
• Last Week – Recorded 2-0 shutout victory at home over SPU, dealt 3-1 defeat on the road at SFU.
• Stingy Defense – Ranks 2nd in the GNAC with a team 0.90 goals against average.
• Harrington Field – 3-1-0 at home this season and 10-2-3 in last 15 games at Harrington Field.
• In the Net Albin – Sophomore forward Albin Jonsson leads the team with five goals this season and has tallied 14 goals in 28 games as a Viking…six career game-winning goals with three this season.
• Between the Pipes – Senior goalkeeper Brandon Locke has started all 10 games and played every minute this season…recorded four shutouts to tie for the GNAC lead and bring his career total to 15 to tie for 3rd-most in program history…22 career GK victories are 4th-most in program history.
• Captains – WWU has a trio of captains this year, seniors Brandon Locke, Theo Steinmetz and Mitchell Hutter.
• GNAC Preseason Poll – Selected to tie for 1st place in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll with Simon Fraser.
• Rotter Brothers – Andrew (junior) and Ryan (sophomore) Rotter are brothers…both have started all six games this season with Andrew scoring a pair of goals (1 assist) and Ryan tallying a pair of assists.
• Free Student Tickets – All home games will offer free admission for current WWU students thanks to a partnership with WECU and The Foundation for WWU & Alumni.
• The Gaffer – Greg Brisbon is in his 11th season as head coach of the WWU men's program and 23rd associated with Western soccer…owns all-time head coaching record of 91-61-26 (.584).

 

Following the long bus trip to Oregon, the Vikings will play three consecutive home games at Harrington Field beginning with an October 19 GNAC contest hosting Montana State Billings. Counting Thursday's game at WOU, the Vikings have eight regular-season contests remaining.

 

Join friends, family, alumni and program supporters at a pregame Bunker Party on Saturday, October 21 for some fun, food and celebration prior to the WWU vs. NNU game that kicks off at 4 pm. The event begins at 2:30 pm and your registration and ticket purchase gains entrance to the Bunker Party, two drink tickets, heavy appetizers and your ticket to the game. The Bunker party will stay open during the game until 5:30. Visit wwuvikings.com/MS_BunkerParty for registration information.

The Foundation for WWU & Alumni will host a student tailgate on Saturday, October 21 from 2-4 pm just north of Harrington Field in the C Lots. This free student event will feature free hot dogs, games and Viking swag. Invite your friends, get your WWU gear ready and stay for the game vs. Northwest Nazarene to cheer on the Vikings. Students are encouraged to register at foundation.wwu.edu.

The Vikings are 3-1-0 in four home games at Harrington Field this season, while going 1-3-2 away from Bellingham. With eight regular-season games remaining, Western is scheduled to play four at home and four on the road.

 

Here is a look at the GNAC schedule and standings heading into the third week of conference play:

 

 

Here is a look at the series history between the Vikings and opponent this week:

 

• Western Oregon: The Vikings won both meetings last season in the inaugural season of the WOU program…WWU won 2-0 at Harrington Field and 1-0 in Monmouth.

 

All home matches will stream live on YouTube via Vikings TV. Additionally, every away GNAC match will feature a webcast on YouTube produced by the visiting team. To watch WWU home matches on your Smart TV, navigate to the YouTube application and search for WWU Athletics, or for away games search for the opposing school's YouTube channel (example: WOU Athletics). All WWU links to follow the Vikings online can be found online, but be sure to bookmark the following links for easy access:

 

• Vikings TV (WWU home matches)
• GNAC Live Streams
• Direct Link to watch WWU matches (wwuvikings.com/MS_Watch)
• Direct Link to follow WWU matches via live stats (wwuvikings.com/MS_Stats)

 

Senior goalkeeper Brandon Locke has appeared in 39 career games in goal for the Vikings since debuting during the 2019 season. Locke has recorded 15 shutouts to rank tied for 3rd in program history (record is 18) and currently has the lowest Goals Against Average (0.76) of any Viking goalkeeper and highest save percentage (.808).

 

Sophomore forward Albin Jonsson leads the team and is tied for 4th in the GNAC with five goals through the first 10 games of the season. Jonsson recorded three goals over a four-game stretch, including a brace against Regis, and is credited with the game-winning goal in three of WWU's four victories this season. In 28 games as a Viking over the last two seasons, Jonsson has scored 14 goals (6 GW goals) and credited with six assists. The 14 goals are already tied for 17th-most in WWU men's soccer history and 34 points are tied for 20th. 

 

Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2023 season:

 

 

The complete 2023 WWU Men's Soccer schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/23_MSOC and single-game tickets can also be purchased online via wwuvikings.com/Tickets. New for the 2023-24 season for all intercollegiate sports will be FREE STUDENT TICKETS at all regular-season home events!

 

Here is a look at the Vikings 2023 regular-season schedule and results:

 

 

The Vikings went 12-4-3 last season, marking the 17th time to record double-digits in wins in a season in 42 full seasons in program history, and the fifth in the last nine seasons. The 12 wins tied for 7th-most in program history.

 

The 2023 roster features a pair of brothers in junior forward Andrew Rotter and sophomore midfielder Ryan Rotter. The Rotter brothers join their older brother, Christian, who starred for the Vikings from 2016-19 appearing in 72 games while totaling 42 points with 13 goals and 16 assists.

 

The Vikings are led by three co-captains in 2023 with seniors Brandon Locke, Theo Steinmetz and Mitchell Hutter all taking reigns of team leadership.

 

The WWU men's soccer team continued its academic success with 11 student-athletes earning a spot on the 2022 Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic Team. Western has now placed at least 10 players on the GNAC All-Academic team in each of the last six years, combining for 71 academic all-conference honors during this stretch beginning in 2017.

 

Here is a look at the complete Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll for the 2023 season with the Vikings listed on top of the table tied with Simon Fraser:

 

 

Since moving home games to Harrington Field on the south edge of campus in 2014, the Vikings have combined to go 45-22-12 for a .646 winning percentage (3-1-0 in 2023, 7-1-3 in 2022). WWU is 28-10-5 at Harrington Field over the last five seasons (since 2018). Combining with the WWU women's team, both programs have combined to go 128-27-18 (.792) playing at Harrington Field.

 

In his 11th season as head coach and 23rd associated with WWU soccer, head coach Greg Brisbon returns 15 letterwinners, including seven starters, from the 2022 squad that went 12-4-3 overall and were in contention for the GNAC title until the final game of the season with an 8-4-0 mark in conference play. The Vikings are just two full seasons removed from playing in the 2019 NCAA Championships and are in the midst of a strong eight-season stretch (since 2016) combining to go 66-39-19 (.609) with a 42-21-11 (.642) record in GNAC play. Brisbon owns an all-time head coaching record of 91-61-26 (.584). He is assisted in 2023 by Chuck Pitts, Matt Zigulis and Kyle Langowski.

 

Fans can follow WWU men's soccer online at WWUVikings.com/MSOC, and via social media on Twitter (@SoccerWWU), Instagram (@wwu_msoccer) and Facebook (@WWUsoccermens).

 

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 is in its 43rd season in 2022 and has recorded an overall record at or above the .500 mark in nine of the last 10 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 63 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 71 GNAC All-Academic selections over the last six years.