ROHNERT PARK, Calif.  – The Western Washington University men's soccer team opened the 2023 season with a hard-fought 1-1 tie on the road facing West Region rival Sonoma State University on Thursday at Seawolf Soccer Field.

 

The Vikings conceded a goal midway through the second half in the 65th minute, but responded with an equalizer by sophomore striker Albin Jonsson just over two minutes later in the 67th minute. WWU pressured SSU throughout the final 20 minutes of the contest, but a few chances came up short. 

 

Jonsson's 10th career goal came with just over 23 minutes remaining in the contest off a left-footed cross from senior defender Theo Steinmetz. The Seawolves had the brief lead when Patrick Neill scored at the 64:33 mark.

 

"It was a good result on the road against a good team," said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. "I was pleased with the work rate and adjustments the players made throughout the game. We did a great job getting the goal after we gave one up. I felt like we created enough chances the last 20 minutes, but probably a fair result in the end. We are looking forward to Saturday's game at Chico State."

 

With just under 15 minutes left in the first half, the Vikings had a good opportunity to put the go-ahead goal in the back of the net. Junior forward Andrew Rotter threaded a pass through the SSU midfield that found a streaking Jonsson, who juked past the charging goalkeeper but had his open-net shot strike off the left post.

 

The host Seawolves held a 12-9 advantage in shots and slim 3-2 edge in shots on target. WWU senior goalkeeper Brandon Locke made a pair of saves for the Vikings.

M⚽️ | After allowing a goal in the 65th minute, @SoccerWWU comes right back with an Albin Jonsson equalizer in the 67th minute.

1 WWU | SSU 1 (69') pic.twitter.com/Rs3y3rSYSc

— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) September 1, 2023

Western Washington 1, Sonoma State 1

2023 Season Opener

Date: August 31, 2023

Field: Seawolf Soccer Field   Site: Rohnert Park, CA

Attendance: 180

 

Goals by period              1  2    Tot

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

Western Washington.........  0  1  -  1

Sonoma State...............  0  1  -  1

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      64:33     SSU     Neill (Ziemer, Stanley)

2.      66:35     WWU     Jonsson (Steinmetz)

 

Shots: SSU 12, WWU 9

Shots on Goal: SSU 3, WWU 2

Saves: WWU 2 (Locke - 2), SSU 1 (ter Riet - 1)

Corners: SSU 5, WWU 2

Fouls: SSU 10, WWU 6

Offsides: WWU 4, SSU 0

Kits: WWU (Navy), SSU (White)

Records: WWU (0-0-1), SSU (0-0-1)

 

WWU (0-0-1) remains in Northern California to complete it's season-opening road trip facing Chico State University Saturday under the lights at University Soccer Stadium in Chico. The complete 2023 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/23_MSOC.

 

The Vikings are now 13-23-8 all-time in the first game of a season in the 44-year history of the program being at the varsity level at WWU. 

 

WWU has gone 2-2-3 in the last seven meetings against Sonoma State and is 3-12-3 all-time vs. the Seawolves. Thursday's tie moved the Vikings to 1-6-2 all-time at Seawolf Soccer Field.

 

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. Current WWU students will gain free admission to all home regular-season athletic events for the 2023-24 school year.

 

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

 

 

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 71 GNAC All-Academic selections over the last six years.