NAMPA, Idaho – The Western Washington University women's soccer team surged into first place in the GNAC with another standout team performance shutting out Northwest Nazarene 2-0 Saturday at NNU Soccer Field.

 

With the other three games in the conference finishing in scoreless draws, the Vikings moved to the top of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference table remaining undefeated through the first three weeks of league play at 4-0-2. WWU's 14 points are one better than Simon Fraser, with Seattle Pacific (12) and Western Oregon (11) making for a tight top four in the standings.

 

Entering the week with just seven goals in nine games, the Vikings offense started to click scoring nine goals in the 2-0-0 week with a 7-1 victory over Central Washington on Thursday and Saturday's 2-0 victory at NNU.

 

"Our offense is starting to click and the team is figuring out what is working," said WWU head coach Travis Connell. "This is a tough road trip and players did a great job staying motivated and picked up six big points. We got off to a great start in both games, which made things easier as the game progressed."

 

The Vikings opened the scoring in the 12th minute when senior forward Kyrsten McGuffey weaved through the NNU defense after possessing the ball on Western's side of the field. The Saint Rose transfer and Port Angeles native cut back in the middle at the top of the box and fired a low shot past the NNU goalkeeper for her third goal of the season. McGuffey completed a seven-point week also recording three assists and a goal in Thursday's victory at CWU.

 

WWU made it 2-0 in the 39th minute to double its lead. Junior midfielder Morgan Manalili took a pass from junior midfielder Abby Succi near the center line, took one touch, and threaded a perfect pass to streaking senior forward Ashley Nguyen who buried into the left side of the net for her second career goal (first this season).

 

When the Vikings score first this year they are 5-0-1 and 3-0-1 when leading at halftime.

 

The Vikings defense posted their fifth shutout of the season limiting the Nighthawks to just one shot on goal, which was saved by senior goalkeeper Abigail Trengove. WWU ranks 2nd the GNAC with a 0.64 goals against average. Junior co-captain Asia Hardin logged another full 90 on the back line to help keep NNU off the scoreboard.

 

Western brings its undefeated GNAC record back home for a four-game homestand at Harrington Field beginning next week hosting Montana State Billings (Thursday) and Simon Fraser (Saturday) in 7 pm contests.

 

"We love playing in front of the home fans at Harrington Field," said Connell. "We'll need to pick up some points in these games against good teams. We are looking forward to getting back home and the challenges ahead."

 

The Vikings (5-2-4, 4-0-2 GNAC) returns home next week opening a four-game homestand hosting Montana State Billings on Thursday (7 pm) and Simon Fraser on Saturday (7 pm) at Harrington Field. The complete 2024 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/24_WSOC.

 

Western Washington 2, Northwest Nazarene 0

Date: October 12, 2024

Field: NNU Soccer Field   Site: Nampa, ID

Attendance: 323

 

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

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

Northwest Nazarene............  0  0  -  0

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      11:54     WWU       McGuffey

2.      38:08     WWU       Nguyen (Succi, Manalili)

 

Shots: WWU 8, NNU 8

Shots on Goal: WWU 4, NNU 1

Saves: WWU 1 (Trengove – 1), NNU 2 (Blancett - 2)

Corners: WWU 7, NNU 4

Fouls: WWU 9, NNU 8

Offsides: WWU 6, NNU 2

Kits: WWU (Black), NNU (White)

Updated Records: WWU (5-2-4, 4-0-2), NNU (1-9-0, 1-5-0)

 

Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2024 season:

 

 

Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings and weekly schedule following Saturday's games to close out the third week of conference play. Updated conference standings, schedules, results and statistics can be found online at GNACsports.com.

 

 

WWU improved to 42-2-3 all-time vs. Northwest Nazarene dating back to the first meeting in the series in 1997. Western extended its unbeaten streak to seven consecutive games vs. the Nighthawks, going 5-0-2 since 2021.

 

Here is a look at the Vikings 2024 regular-season schedule. The GNAC Championships will be held November 14-16 at Interbay Stadium in Seattle, and the NCAA Division II Championships open with the first and second rounds November 21-24:

 

 

Fans can follow WWU women's soccer online at WWUVikings.com/WSOC, and via social media on Twitter/X (@WWU_WSoccer), Instagram (@wwu_wsoccer) and Facebook (@WWUsoccerwomens). 

 

The Western Washington University women's soccer program has risen to the top of the Division II ranks, appearing in the NCAA Championships in 10 of the last 11 seasons and winning a pair of national championships in 2016 and 2022. WWU has advanced to the NCAA II Final Four in five of the last 10 seasons and played for the West Region championship in nine of the last 11 seasons (seven consecutive from 2015-22). The Vikings won the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 2-1 win over No. 1 nationally-ranked West Chester, played for the 2019 national title and won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016 with an undefeated 24-0-1 record, beating three-time defending national champion Grand Valley State 3-2 in the title game in Kansas City, Missouri. The program has claimed eight of the last 12 Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season titles (2022 Champions) and won five of the last eight GNAC Tournament titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022). Head coach Travis Connell is in his 22nd season leading the program in 2024 (29th overall at WWU) and has led the Vikings to 12 trips to the NCAA Championships and 19 consecutive winning seasons.