Western Washington University Athletics

BILLINGS, Mont. – In the final game of the 2023 regular season, the Western Washington University men's soccer team tallied two goals in the second half to defeat Montana State University Billings 2-0 Saturday evening in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at Yellowjacket Field.

With the victory, Western closes out the season at 6-6-6 overall and tied for third place in the conference standings at 3-4-5 record in league play.

The Vikings got the scoring started at the 51:07 mark in the second half when senior Elliot Rains sent a long ball from the midfield line over the top of the Yellowjacket's defense where junior forward Eric Bunnell one-touched it up over the top of the charging keeper for the 1-0 lead. 

 

Western sealed the victory going up 2-0 20 minutes later when redshirt freshman defender Krubelle Tesfaye threaded a pass through traffic to just outside the top of the 18-yard box where freshman midfielder Edgar Serrano gathered, turned, and blasted one past the left of the keeper.

WWU held an 15-3 advantage in shots and 4-1 in shots on goal over the Yellowjackets as Western's defense and senior goalkeeper Brandon Locke registered its sixth shutout of the season. Locke made one save Saturday to complete his career with 17 shutouts, second-most in program history.

 

The Vikings completed the season on a five-game unbeaten streak going 2-0-3 over the final three weeks.

 

"Tonight was a great performance by the team. I thought it was one of our best games of the year and a great way to end the season," said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. "I appreciation and am proud of this group, especially the seniors for what they have given to the program over their careers."

 

Western Washington 2, Montana State Billings 0

Date: November 11, 2023

Field: Yellowjacket Field   Site: Billings, MT

Attendance: 247

 

Goals by period              1  2    Tot

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

Western Washington.........  0  2  -  2

MSU Billings...............  0  0  -  0

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      51:07     WWU      Bunnell (Rains)

2.      78:24     WWU      Serrano (Tesfaye)

 

Shots: WWU 15, MSUB 4

Shots on Goal: WWU 3, MSUB 1

Saves: WWU 1 (Locke - 1), MSUB 1 (Campagnolo - 1)

Corners: WWU 7, MSUB 3

Fouls: MSUB 11, WWU 5

Offsides: WWU 1, MSUB 1

Kits: WWU (Navy), MSUB (Yellow)

Records: WWU (6-6-6, 3-4-5), MSUB (5-9-3, 2-6-2)

 

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

 

 

Here is a look at the final GNAC standings with the Vikings tying for 3rd place in table averaging 1.17 points per game in 2023:

 

 

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

 

 

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 4th season in 2023 and has recorded an overall record at or above the .500 mark in nine of the last 10 seasons, including a 12-4-3 record in 2022, 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 82 GNAC All-Academic selections over the last seven years.