BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team will close out its 2023 schedule with a two-game road trip this week. The Vikings will take on Saint Martin's in Lacey on Thursday at 1 pm before traveling to take on Montana State Billings on Saturday with kickoff at 7 pm MT.

 

The Vikings carry a 5-6-5 overall mark into their last two games of the season with a 2-4-4 mark in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. The Vikings look to finish strong, with a pair of wins needed to bring them above .500 on the season.

 

WWU is coming off an impressive 2-1 win against No. 20 nationally-ranked Simon Fraser last Saturday on senior night at Harrington Field. Goals from Elliott Rains and Diego Alvarado helped the Vikings snap SFU's seven-game winning streak and handed the Red Leafs their first GNAC loss of the season. 

 

Senior Goalkeeper Brandon Locke has two career games left to solidify himself as the Vikings all-time career leader in Goals against average (0.82) and Save Percentage (.787). Locke also sits two games short of the Vikings all-time shutouts record.

 

Five seniors will be playing their final collegiate games for the Vikings. Elliott Rains, Mitchell Hutter, Brandon Locke, Theo Steinmetz and Kyota Hiate were honored on Saturday at senior night and now look to finish their time in a Vikings uniform on a high note.

 

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.

 

 

Here is a look at the GNAC schedule and standings heading into the final week of the 2023 regular season. WWU is listed 5th in the standings averaging 1.00 points per game:

 

 

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

 

• Saint Martin's: Facing SMU for the second time this season after falling to the saints 1-0 on September 28 in the Vikings GNAC opener at Harrington Field … Snapped a 9-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) against the Saints dating back to the 2018 season … Vikings leads the all-time series 23-8-2.
• Montana State Billings: Second meeting of the season between WWU and MSUB after a 0-0 draw at Harrington Field on October 19 … Vikings currently on a 8-game unbeaten run against the Yellowjackets dating back to the 2018 season … WWU leads the all time series 23-11-4.

 

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

 

 

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: Saint Martin's 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)

 

The Vikings 2-1 victory over No. 20 Simon Fraser was their first win against a ranked opponent this season and the first time SFU has been defeated this season in conference play. Junior Diego Alvarado and senior Elliot Rains each scored their first goals of the season against a Red Leafs squad that entered the match atop the GNAC with a Goals Against Average of 0.71. The Vikings also shut down a high-flying Simon Fraser offense which had been averaging 2.21 goals per game entering Saturday night. WWU was only denied their 6th shutout by an impressive 89th minute volley strike from Nicolai Placzek. The 2-1 win snapped a 6-game winless run and served as a perfect end to senior night.

 

Senior goalkeeper Brandon Locke has appeared in 45 career games in goal for the Vikings since debuting during the 2019 season. Locke has recorded 16 shutouts to rank tied for 2nd in program history (record is 18) and currently has the lowest Goals Against Average (0.82) of any Viking goalkeeper and highest save percentage (.787).

 

Through seven home games this season, the Vikings are averaging 312 fans per game at Harrington Field, a mark that ranks 7th among NCAA Division II men's soccer programs across the country and 3rd among West Region teams.

 

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

 

 

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.

 

Since moving home games to Harrington Field on the south edge of campus in 2014, the Vikings have combined to go 46-23-14 for a .639 winning percentage (4-2-2 in 2023, 7-1-3 in 2022). WWU is 29-11-7 at Harrington Field over the last five seasons (since 2018). Combining with the WWU women's team, both programs have combined to go 132-29-20 (.785) playing at Harrington Field (11-3-3 this season).

 

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 67-41-22 (.600) with a 43-23-14 (.625) record in GNAC play. Brisbon owns an all-time head coaching record of 92-63-29 (.579). He is assisted in 2023 by Chuck Pitts, Matt Zigulis and Kyle Langowski.

 

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

 

• The Record – 5-6-5 overall, 2-4-4 GNAC, 4-2-2 at Harrington Field, 1-4-3 on the road.
• Last Week – Won their only game last week 2-1 against #20 Simon Fraser
• Stingy Defense – Ranks 2nd in the GNAC with a team 1.00 goals against average.
• Harrington Field – 4-2-2 at home this season and 11-3-5 in last 19 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 34 games as a Viking…six career game-winning goals with three this season.
• Between the Pipes – Senior goalkeeper Brandon Locke has started all 16 games and played every minute this season…recorded five shutouts to tie for second in the GNAC and bring his career total to 16 to tie for 2nd-most in program history…23 career GK victories are tied for 3rd-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… combined for 29 of a possible 32 starts and sit 2^nd and 3^rd on the Vikings in total points with Ryan scoring a pair of goals with 2 assists and Andrew notching 2 goals and 1 assist.
• 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 92-63-29 (.577).

 

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.