MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Washington University women's soccer team got a little unlucky in Saturday's 1-0 loss at Western Oregon University, hitting the crossbar and a post on shots to come up short in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on the WOU Turf Field.

 

The Vikings pressed throughout the second half creating scoring chances, out-shooting the Wolves 8-5 in the final 45 minutes, but were unable to find the back of the net for the second consecutive game.

 

WWU had its undefeated start to GNAC play stalled falling to 3-3-3 overall and 1-1-2 in conference play. The defending national champions have now been kept off the scoreboard five times in nine games this season, feeling the loss of start forward Estera Levinte who suffered a season-ending injury prior to the start of the season.

 

"We made adjustments at halftime and on the road in a tough environment turned the game in our favor," said WWU head coach Travis Connell. "We created more chances in the second half after a first half where we were out-played by a good team. We are headed in the right direction and look forward to our next game."

 

The Vikings controlled possession in the first five minutes of the game pressing for the opener, but it was the Wolves who struck first early in the 24th minute. With the ball inside the 18-yard box the Western defense attempted to tap the ball into safe space, but Raeanne Jones intercepted the ball and tucked her shot inside the right post at the 23:11 mark.

 

Western looked to equalize in the 29th minute when Halle Noel took a cheeky touch pass from Sophie Bearden Croft with her left-footed shot deflecting off the underside of the crossbar.

 

The Vikings had three great scoring chances in the final 20 minutes of the game while looking to pull even in the contest. Sophomore Morgan Manalili unleashed a long shot outside the 18-yard box in the 72nd minute that was smothered by WOU goalkeeper Sophia Price.

 

WWU fought until the very end with sophomore forward Claire Potter hitting the left post on a close-quarters shot at the 88:51 mark and with the clock winding down freshman midfielder Mie Cairns broke through the WOU defense, but pulled a shot wide right.

 

Senior goalkeeper Claire Henninger made three saves to keep the game close.

 

WOU improved to 3-1-0 in GNAC play and 6-1-1 overall. Price made a pair of saves while recording her league-leading fifth shutout of the season.

 

The Vikings (3-3-3, 1-1-2 GNAC) return home to host a pair of GNAC games at Harrington Field, beginning with a Thursday (10/5) match vs. Central Washington at 4 pm on Latine Heritage Day and Saturday (10/7) hosting Northwest Nazarene at 7 pm for the unveiling of the 2016 and 2022 National Championship banner. The complete 2023 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/23_WSOC.

 

Western Oregon 1, Western Washington 0

Date: September 30, 2023

Field: WOU Turf Field   Site: Monmouth, OR

Attendance: 142

 

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

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

Western Oregon................  1  0  -  1

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      23:11     WOU     Jones (Parker, Smith)

 

Shots: WOU 13, WWU 11

Shots on Goal: WOU 4, WWU 2

Saves: WWU 3 (Henninger – 3), WOU 2 (Pierce – 2)

Corners: WWU 3, WOU 3

Fouls: WWU 12, WOU 7

Offsides: WWU 0, WOU 0

Kits: WWU (White), WOU (Black)

Records: WWU (3-3-3, 1-1-2), WOU (6-1-1, 3-1-0)

 

Saturday's game marked the Vikings lone trip to Oregon this season, serving as a homecoming for six players. Asia Hardin (West Linn), Ellie Busik (Happy Valley), Emily Rice (Portland), Jane Hmura (Portland), Sophie Bearden Croft (Portland) and Chloe Unflat (Portland) are all Oregon natives.

 

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

 

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

 

 

The complete 2023 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/23_WSOC. Single-game tickets for the 2023 season are currently on sale via wwuvikings.com/Tickets. New for the 2023-24 season is FREE tickets for current WWU students to all regular-season home sporting events.

 

WWU will celebrate its 2022 national championship prior to the October 7 game vs. Northwest Nazarene. A championship banner will be unveiled at Harrington Field to show both the 2016 and 2022 national titles and the first 350 fans will receive a special national championship crest sticker.