MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team opened Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a 1-0 road loss against No. 25 nationally-ranked Western Oregon University on Thursday.
The Vikings were held off the scoreboard for the third consecutive game, conceding a goal in the 36th minute of the first half to fall to 1-3-1 in their last five games. WWU is 2-3-2 overall – with all three defeats coming 1-0 – and 0-1-0 in conference play. Western Oregon improved to 5-1-1 overall while extending its home unbeaten streak to nine consecutive games (7-0-2).
"A tough result for the team today," said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. "Overall I thought we competed well in a difficult road game with the conditions. Credit to Western Oregon on getting the result today."
Playing for the first time since September 21, the Vikings held a 9-8 advantage in total shots, but the Wolves had seven shots on goal compared to the Vikings three. WWU sophomore goalkeeper Charlie Dyer was credited with six saves to keep the Vikings close.
The Vikings presented a few scoring chances in the early going with a pair of shots on target in the first 10 minutes. Senior midfielder Kaydin Wall took a free kick well outside the box where senior forward Eric Bunnell connected on a strong header that was saved by WOU goalkeeper Andre Schlaefli.
Under a minute later in the 9th minute Schlaefli made another save on a shot by sophomore midfielder Edgar Serrano.
WOU capitalized in the 36th minute off a set piece by Yahir Ocampo Navarro. The sophomore sent his free kick towards the goal that was punched away by Dyer. With Dyer pulled away from the goal, Ocampo Navarro collected the ball and fired a shot into the corner for his fourth goal of the season.
The Vikings kept the Wolves off the scoreboard in the second half and had back-to-back corner kicks in the 87th minute that fell just short of finding the late equalizer.
WWU was playing without a pair of starting center backs as Sebastiano Silvetti (coming off Red Card) and Krubelle Tesfaye (injury) did not make the trip.
The Vikings (2-3-2, 0-1-0 GNAC) are back in action Saturday night with a rivalry game vs. Seattle Pacific set for 7 pm at Interbay Stadium. The complete 2024 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/24_MSOC.
#25 Western Oregon 1, Western Washington 0
Date: October 3, 2024
Field: WOU Turf Field Site: Monmouth, OR
Attendance: 117
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
--------------------------------------------
Western Washington............ 0 0 - 0
#25 Western Oregon............ 1 0 - 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 35:31 WOU Ocampo Navarro
Shots: WWU 9, WOU 8
Shots on Goal: WOU 7, WWU 3
Saves: WWU 6 (Dyer – 6), WOU 3 (Schlaefli – 3)
Corners: WWU 7, WOU 2
Fouls: WWU 13, WOU 11
Offsides: WWU 5, WOU 4
Kits: WWU (Navy), WOU (White)
Updated Records: WWU (2-3-2, 0-1-0), WOU (5-1-1, 1-0-0)
Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2024 season:
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2024 RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall Record
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2-3-2
|
|
Streak
|
L1
|
|
Home
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2-1-1
|
|
Away
|
0-2-0
|
|
Neutral
|
0-0-1
|
|
GNAC Record
|
0-1-0
|
|
Non-Conference
|
2-2-2
|
|
Ranked Opponents
|
1-2-0
|
|
Scoring First
|
2-0-1
|
|
Opponent Scores First
|
0-3-0
|
|
Lead at the Half
|
1-0-1
|
|
Tied at the Half
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1-1-1
|
|
Trail at the Half
|
0-2-0
|
|
Record by Kit
|
|
White
|
0-2-1
|
|
Navy Blue
|
2-1-1
|
|
Light Blue
|
0-0-0
|
2024 WWU MEN'S SOCCER RESULTS & SCHEDULE
Here is a look at the Vikings 2024 regular-season schedule:
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DATE
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OPPONENT
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LOCATION / VENUE
|
KICKOFF
|
|
Sept. 5 (Thur.)
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Chico State (#18)
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Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
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W, 1-0
|
|
Sept. 7 (Sat.)
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Sonoma State
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
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T, 1-1
|
|
Sept. 12 (Thur.)
|
Cal State LA (#3)
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
L, 0-1
|
|
Sept. 14 (Sat.)
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Cal State Dominguez Hills
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
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W, 2-1
|
|
Sept. 19 (Thur.)
|
@Westminster
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Salt Lake City, UT (Dumke Field)
|
L, 0-1
|
|
Sept. 21 (Sat.)
|
vs. Regis
|
Salt Lake City, UT (Dumke Field)
|
T, 0-0
|
|
Oct. 3 (Thur.)
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@Western Oregon (#25) GNAC
|
Monmouth, OR (WOU Turf Field)
|
L, 0-1
|
|
Oct. 5 (Sat.)
|
@Seattle Pacific GNAC
|
Seattle, WA (Interbay Stadium)
|
7:00 pm
|
|
Oct. 10 (Thur.)
|
Northwest Nazarene GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
7:00 pm
|
|
Oct. 12 (Sat.)
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@Saint Martin's GNAC
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Lacey, WA (SMU Soccer Field)
|
3:45 pm
|
|
Oct. 19 (Sat.)
|
Montana St. Billings GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
4:00 pm
|
|
Oct. 24 (Thur.)
|
Seattle Pacific GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
7:00 pm
|
|
Oct. 26 (Sat.)
|
@Simon Fraser GNAC
|
Burnaby, BC (Terry Fox Field)
|
2:00 pm
|
|
Oct. 31 (Thur.)
|
@Northwest Nazarene GNAC
|
Nampa, ID (NNU Soccer Field)
|
4:00 pm MT
|
|
Nov. 2 (Sat.)
|
Saint Martin's GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
4:00 pm
|
|
Nov. 7 (Thur.)
|
Simon Fraser GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
5:00 pm
|
|
Nov. 9 (Sat.)
|
@Montana St. Billings GNAC
|
Billings, MT (Yellowjacket Soccer Field)
|
6:00 pm MT
|
|
Nov. 14 (Thur.)
|
Western Oregon GNAC
|
Bellingham, WA (Harrington Field)
|
7:00 pm
|
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.
