BILLINGS, Mont. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team had its seven-game winning streak snapped in a tightly-contested 1-0 road loss against Montana State Billings Saturday at Yellowjacket Field.

 

The Yellowjackets scored the lone goal of the game early in the second half at the 48:26 mark. MSUB took a shot just outside the box that was blocked by junior winger Albin Jonsson, but it was ruled a handball giving MSUB the penalty kick in the just over three minutes into the second half. So Nagano converted the penalty to give the Yellowjackets the lead.

 

The seven-game winning streak goes into the record books as tied for 5th-longest in program history. WWU enters the final game of the season with a 9-5-3 overall record and in 2nd place in the GNAC standings at 7-3-1.

 

WWU held a 15-7 advantage in total shots with each team taking four shots on goal.

 

Sophomore goalkeeper Charlie Dyer kept the game close making three total saves, including a goal-saving punch over the bar on a shot right before the half by MSUB.

 

The Yellowjackets improved to 6-4-6 overall and remain in 3rd place in the GNAC table at 5-2-3.

 

The Vikings (9-5-3, 7-3-1 GNAC) completes the regular season Thursday with Senior Day against nationally-ranked Western Oregon at 7 pm at Harrington Field. The complete 2024 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/24_MSOC.

 

Montana State Billings 1, Western Washington 0

Date: November 9, 2024

Field: Yellowjacket Soccer Field   Site: Billings, MT

Attendance: 203

 

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

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

Montana State Billings........  0  1  -  1

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.        48:26     MSUB       Nagano (PK)

 

Shots: WWU 15, MSUB 7

Shots on Goal: WWU 4, MSUB 4

Saves: WWU 3 (Dyer – 3), MSUB 4 (Reiter - 4)

Corners: WWU 11, MSUB 3

Fouls: MSUB 18, WWU 14

Offsides: MSUB 2, WWU 0

Kits: WWU (White), MSUB (Black)

Updated Records: WWU (9-5-3, 7-3-1 GNAC), MSUB (6-4-6, 5-2-3 GNAC)

 

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

 

 

WWU had its seven-game winning streak snapped Saturday with the 1-0 loss at Montana State Billings. The streak goes into the record books as tied for 5th-longest in program history.

 

 

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

 

 

WWU and MSUB split the season series with each team winning on its home field. The Vikings defeated the Yellowjackets 2-1 on October 19 at Harrington Field. The MSUB victory snapped a 10-game unbeaten streak (7-0-3) by Western over the 'Jackets.

 

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

 

 

WWU will honor its seven-player senior class prior to Thursday's regular-season finale vs. Western Oregon. The Vikings senior class includes Lucas Hakamada, Kaydin Wall, Jacob Sundberg, Diego Alvarado, Andrew Rotter, Eric Bunnelland Adan Fernandez.

 

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.