BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team won its second consecutive game defeating Montana State Billings at a windy and rainy Harrington Field Saturday in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

WWU improved to 4-4-3 overall and 2-2-1 in GNAC play with its second consecutive victory. The Vikings are tied for 4th place in the GNAC standings with MSUB with seven points.

The battle between the Vikings and Yellowjackets began from the start with each team being awarded and converting a penalty kick in the first three minutes of the contest. MSUB went up 1-0 just over a minute after kickoff when Guillermo Gonzalez converted from the spot. Just over a minute later Western's Edgar Serrano made good on his penalty kick after Albin Jonsson drew a foul in the box.

Senior Eric Bunnell put the Vikings up for good in the 21st minute scoring his third goal of the season. Senior Jacob Sundberg crossed a ball into the box where Bunnell dribbled around a defender to find a small amount of space and find the back of the net.

Western's defense held MSUB off the scoreboard the rest of the way despite the Yellowjackets holding a 15-13 edge in shots. WWU led in shots on goal 8-5 and 5-2 on corner kicks. Sophomore goalkeeper Charlie Dyer made four saves for the Vikings.

MSUB dropped to 3-4-4 overall and 2-2-1 in conference play. Fred Reiter made six saves for the Yellowjackets and Florian Senf was credited with a team-high five shots.
 

The Vikings (4-4-3, 2-2-1 GNAC) remain at home next week hosting rival Seattle Pacific in a 7 pm game on Thursday, October 24 at Harrington Field. The complete 2024 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/24_MSOC.

Western Washington 2, Montana State Billings 1

Date: October 19, 2024

Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 148

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

MSU Billings..................  1  0  -  1

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

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.       1:01     MSUB    Gonzalez (PK)

2.       2:46     WWU     Serrano (PK)

3.      20:38     WWU     Bunnell (Sundberg)

Shots: MSUB 15, WWU 13

Shots on Goal: WWU 8, MSUB 5

Saves: WWU 4 (Dyer – 4), MSUB 6 (Reiter – 6)

Corners: WWU 5, MSUB 2

Fouls: MSUB 18, WWU 17

Offsides: MSUB 2, WWU 0

Kits: WWU (Navy), MSUB (White)

Updated Records: WWU (4-4-3, 2-2-1), MSUB (3-4-4, 2-2-1)

Here is a look at the overall records for the seven GNAC programs through Saturday's games to complete the third week of conference play. Updated conference standings, schedules, results and statistics can be found online at GNACsports.com.

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

WWU improved to 25-11-4 all-time vs. Montana State Billings and extended its unbeaten streak to 10 consecutive over the Yellowjackets (7-0-3). The Vikings are 14-6-1 all-time vs. MSUB in home games, with a 6-3-1 mark at Harrington Field.

Here is a look at the Vikings 2024 regular-season schedule:

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 completed its 44th varsity season in 2023 and has recorded a season record at or above the .500 mark in 11 of the last 12 seasons. 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 four 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.