BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's soccer team clinched the 2024 GNAC regular season title with a pair of GNAC Player of the Week performances leading the way.

 

Senior forward Kyrsten McGuffey scored all four goals in the Vikings matching 2-0 road wins over Western Oregon and Saint Martin's, taking over the team and GNAC lead with eight goals on the season. The senior transfer from Saint Rose College and native of Port Angeles has also contributed five assists to lead the conference with 21 points.

 

"We knew she had a lot of quality in her game, but it's always a challenge to bring new players into the group," said WWU head coach Travis Connell. "You have to give a lot of credit to her for putting in the work to learn a new system and teammates, but also to our returning players making space for her and encouraging her. Kyrsten's offensive output is easy to see in the stats, but in order to play with us you have to defend as an attacking player as well."

 

Sophomore defender Olivia Connell played the full 90 at center back in both shutouts, extending the Vikings string of holding opponents without a goal to five consecutive games (512 minutes). Connell has started all 17 games this season for the GNAC champion Vikings, ranking third on the team and second among position players with 1,369 minutes played. Connell also has a goal and an assist this season.

 

"We have benefitted greatly from the continuity we have had in the back line that started last year and through the spring season, and Olivia has been a huge part of that," added Connell. "It is a perfect example of how the sum of the parts is better than any individual on their own. They all make each other better and fit well together, and they are playing at a high level."

 

WWU heads into the final week of the regular season with an 11-2-4 overall record and clinched its 10th GNAC regular-season title with an undefeated 10-0-2 mark in conference play. The Vikings have won their last eight games and have a current 12-game undefeated streak (10-0-2).

 

The GNAC Player of the Week is the first sweep by a conference school this season in women's soccer. The Vikings have had six players earn the weekly GNAC award while winning the offensive honor each of the last four weeks.

 

WWU has had six GNAC Players of the Week so far during the 2024 season, with four consecutive weeks winning the offensive player of the week honor. Here is a week-by-week look at the GNAC weekly award winners:

 

 

The Vikings (11-2-4, 10-0-2 GNAC) wrap up the regular season this week on the road playing at Seattle Pacific on Thursday at Interbay Stadium (7 pm) and traveling to play Montana State Billings on Saturday (3 pm MT). The GNAC Championships open the postseason with semifinal action on Thursday, November 14. The complete 2024 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/24_WSOC.