BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team found a little late-game magic in its Derby Night 2-1 victory over Seattle Pacific University Thursday evening under the lights at Harrington Field.

 

Senior winger Andrew Rotter drew a foul in the box with 42 seconds remaining in the game and senior midfielder Kaydin Wall decisively converted from the spot to break the 1-1 tie with less than a minute remaining.

 

The back-and-forth rivalry game featured two early first-half goals, solid defense and ultimately a big late-game moment to lift the Vikings to their third consecutive GNAC victory. WWU improved to 5-4-3 overall and 3-2-1 in conference play to pull into a four-way tie for second place in the conference standings with 10 points with SPU, Northwest Nazarene and Montana State Billings. Western Oregon remains unbeaten in GNAC play at 6-0-0 for 18 points.

 

"Another great rivalry game vs. SPU. Back-and-forth, good chances for both teams and fortunately we were able to get the win tonight," said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. "This is a great results for the program and I am looking forward to seeing our guys compete Saturday at Simon Fraser."

 

WWU opened the scoring early in the 13th minute when senior midfielder Adan Fernandez collected a loose ball off a clearance attempt and drilled his shot into the lower right side of goal for his second goal of the season.

 

Each team had a limited chances the remainder of the game to keep the game knotted 1-1. 

 

WWU sophomore midfielder Edgar Serrano whipped a free kick into the box in the 67th minute where senior midfielder Lucas Hakamada flicked a header towards the far post that SPU goalkeeper Pierluca Carnovale got a glove on for the save.

 

SPU took the next five shots in the contest after the near Western goal, and threatened in the 80th minute when Alexander Hristov had his shot cleared off the line by great defensive plays by junior Joar Tidblom and sophomore Krubelle Tesfaye. 

 

With the clock winding down sophomore goalkeeper Charlie Dyer played a long ball into SPU territory where senior Eric Bunnell flicked it on to Rotter who got behind the SPU defense. Rotter was one-on-one with SPU defender Isaac Ketcham and went down in the box drawing what turned out to be the decisive penalty. Wall stepped up to the penalty spot and sent a right-footed blast into the left corner to send the Viking sidelines into a frenzy.

 

The Vikings edged SPU (6-4-2, 3-2-1 GNAC) 10-9 in total shots and 4-3 in shots on goal.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The Vikings (5-4-3, 3-2-1 GNAC) are back on the road Saturday crossing the border to play Simon Fraser University in a 2 pm game at Terry Fox Field at SFU Stadium. The complete 2024 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/24_MSOC.

 

Western Washington 2, Seattle Pacific 1

Date: October 24, 2024

Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 224

 

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

Seattle Pacific...............  1  0  -  1

Western Washington............  1  1  -  2

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      12:02     WWU     Fernandez

2.      15:21     SPU     Johnston (Ketcham)

3.      89:17     WWU     Wall (PK)

 

Shots: WWU 10, SPU 9

Shots on Goal: WWU 4, SPU 3

Saves: WWU 2 (Dyer – 1, Team - 1), SPU 2 (Carnovale – 2)

Corners: SPU 5, WWU 3

Fouls: SPU 16, WWU 13

Offsides: SPU 2, WWU 1

Kits: WWU (Light Blue), SPU (Black)

Updated Records: WWU (5-4-3, 3-2-1), SPU (6-4-2, 3-2-1)

 

Here is a look at the overall records for the seven GNAC programs through Thursday's games to open the fourth 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:

 

 

The Vikings won the regular-season series over the Falcons 1-0-1 after the two rivals played to a 2-2 tie on October 5 in Seattle. WWU improved to 9-3-6 vs. SPU over the last 18 meetings dating back to the 2016 season. The Falcons lead the all-time series 39-16-12. WWU has won the last three meetings at Harrington Field (3-1 in 2022, 2-0 in 2023, 2-1 in 2024).

 

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

 

 

Since moving home games to Harrington Field on the south edge of campus in 2014, the Vikings have combined to go 50-25-15 for a .639 winning percentage (4-2-1 in 2024, 4-2-2 in 2023, 7-1-3 in 2022). WWU is 32-13-8 at Harrington Field over the last six seasons (since 2018). Combining with the WWU women's team, both programs have combined to go 141-32-24 (.777) playing at Harrington Field.

 

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 93 GNAC All-Academic selections over the last eight years.