LACEY, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team scored a pair of second half goals, answering early goals by host Saint Martin's University, and settled for a 2-2 tie on a rainy Thursday afternoon in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at Saints Field.
WWU set the program single-season record with its sixth tie of the season, heading into Saturday's final game with a 5-6-6 overall record and 2-4-5 GNAC mark.
"It was a tough result today with all the conditions presented," said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. "We showed good resolve getting goals back in the first half, but were unable to find the winner in the second half."
Saint Martin's scored the opener less than seven minutes into the game when freshman Xander Koenig netted team-leading fourth goal of the season.
Western answered late in the 19th minute when a pair of defenders combined to equalize the game at 1-1. Redshirt freshman Sebastiano Silvetti found sophomore Joar Tidblom near the back post where he touched it home for his second career goal.
The Saints went up 2-1 late in the first half with a goal by Sean Selanikio at the 37:37 mark off an assist from Angel Alvarado-Fajardo.
Much like the first sequence of goals, the Vikings answered to tie things up 2-2 at the half. Junior forward Diego Alvarado scored for the second consecutive game putting home a saved shot from junior Eric Bunnell.
As offensive as he first half proved to be, rainy conditions played into a defensive battle in the second half with both teams held off the scoreboard for the 2-2 draw. Each team had three shots on goal over the final 45 minutes, but both goalkeepers were up to the challenge.
WWU senior goalkeeper Brandon Locke made six saves, while Saints keeper Nick Mueller also had six stops.
The Vikings held a 21-15 advantage in total shots, with each team credited with eight shots on goal.
WWU (5-6-6, 2-4-5 GNAC) closes out the 2023 on Saturday traveling to play Montana State Billings with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm MT/6 pm PT at Yellowjacket Field. The complete 2023 schedule with live coverage links and online ticket purchasing available at wwuvikings.com/23_MSOC.
Saint Martin's 2, Western Washington 2
Date: November 9, 2023
Field: Saints Field Site: Lacey, WA
Attendance: 188
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
-----------------------------------------
Western Washington......... 2 0 - 2
Saint Martin's............. 2 0 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 6:34 SMU Koenig
2. 18:46 WWU Tidblom (Silvetti)
3. 37:37 SMU Selanikio (Alvarado-Fajardo)
4. 42:27 WWU Alvarado (Bunnell)
Shots: WWU 21, SMU 15
Shots on Goal: WWU 8, SMU 8
Saves: WWU 6 (Locke - 6), SMU 6 (Mueller – 6)
Corners: WWU 8, SMU 5
Fouls: WWU 9, SMU 9
Offsides: WWU 5, SMU 0
Kits: WWU (Light Blue), SMU (Black)
Records: WWU (5-6-6, 2-4-5), SMU (4-8-4, 2-6-3)
Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2023 season:
|
2023 RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall Record
|
5-6-6
|
|
Streak
|
T1
|
|
Home
|
4-2-2
|
|
Away
|
1-4-4
|
|
Neutral
|
0-0-0
|
|
GNAC Record
|
2-4-5
|
|
Non-Conference
|
3-2-1
|
|
Ranked Opponents
|
1-0-0
|
|
Scoring First
|
5-0-2
|
|
Opponent Scores First
|
0-6-2
|
|
Lead at the Half
|
4-0-1
|
|
Tied at the Half
|
1-3-5
|
|
Trail at the Half
|
0-3-0
|
|
Record by Jersey
|
|
White
|
0-3-3
|
|
Navy Blue
|
3-3-1
|
|
Light Blue
|
2-0-2
|
2023 WWU MEN'S SOCCER RESULTS & SCHEDULE
Here is a look at the Vikings 2023 regular-season schedule and results:
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DATE
|
OPPONENT
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LOCATION / VENUE
|
KICKOFF
|
|
Aug. 31 (Thur.)
|
@Sonoma State
|
Rohnert Park, CA (Seawolf Soccer Stadium)
|
T, 1-1
|
|
Sept. 2 (Sat.)
|
@Chico State
|
Chico, CA (University Soccer Stadium)
|
L, 2-0
|
|
Sept. 7 (Thur.)
|
@CUI
|
Irvine, CA (Golden Eagles Field)
|
W, 3-1
|
|
Sept. 9 (Sat.)
|
@Point Loma
|
San Diego, CA (PLNU Soccer Field)
|
L, 1-0
|
|
Sept. 14 (Thur.)
|
Colorado Mines
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
W, 3-0
|
|
Sept. 16 (Thur.)
|
Regis
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
W, 2-0
|
|
Sept. 28 (Thur.)
|
Saint Martin's GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
L, 1-0
|
|
Sept. 30 (Sat.)
|
@Northwest Nazarene GNAC
|
Nampa, ID (NNU Soccer Field)
|
T, 0-0
|
|
Oct. 5 (Thur.)
|
Seattle Pacific GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
W, 2-0
|
|
Oct. 7 (Sat.)
|
@Simon Fraser GNAC
|
Burnaby, BC (Terry Fox Field)
|
L, 3-1
|
|
Oct. 12 (Thur.)
|
@Western Oregon GNAC
|
Monmouth, OR (WOU Soccer Field)
|
L, 2-1
|
|
Oct. 19 (Thur.)
|
Montana St. Billings GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
T, 0-0
|
|
Oct. 21 (Sat.)
|
Northwest Nazarene GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
L, 1-0
|
|
Oct. 26 (Thur.)
|
Western Oregon GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
T, 2-2
|
|
Oct. 28 (Sat.)
|
@Seattle Pacific GNAC
|
Seattle, WA (Interbay Stadium)
|
T, 1-1
|
|
Nov. 4 (Sat.)
|
Simon Fraser GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
W, 2-1
|
|
Nov. 9 (Thur.)
|
@Saint Martin's GNAC
|
Lacey, WA (SMU Soccer Field)
|
T, 2-2
|
|
Nov. 11 (Sat.)
|
@Montana St. Billings GNAC
|
Billings, MT (Yellowjacket Soccer Field)
|
7:00 pm MT
|
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.
