BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Off to an undefeated 1-0-1 start to the season the Western Washington University men's soccer team remains at home hosting No. 3 nationally-ranked Cal State LA and Cal State Dominguez Hills at Harrington Field.

 

The Vikings host a pair of national championship programs to round out a four-game homestand, all against West Region opponents from the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

 

Cal State LA won the NCAA Division II national title in 2021 after earning runner-up honors in 2019. Cal State Dominguez Hills is a two-time NCAA II national champion winning titles in 2000 and 2008. 

 

Thursday's game under the lights vs. the Golden Eagles marks the highest ranked non-conference team to visit Harrington Field since 2019 when No. 3 Azusa Pacific traveled to play in Bellingham. CSLA is 1-0-0 on the season following a 2-0 victor over Fresno Pacific. Cal State Dominguez Hills is 1-1-0 after its trip to Hawai'i falling to Hawai'i Hilo (2-0) and defeating Hawai'i Pacific (4-0).

 

WWU is coming off a 1-0 victory over No. 18 Chico State in its season opener and a 1-1 tie vs. Sonoma State. Senior winger Andrew Rotter scored the game-winner vs. the Wildcats in the 79th minute to help secure GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

 

 

The Vikings are hosting four consecutive home games to open a season for the first time since 2009 and the first time since debuting at Harrington Field in 2014. WWU's tough start features four home contests against West Region opponents and a pair of matches against ranked teams (#18 Chico State, #3 Cal State LA). WWU played five consecutive home games to open the 2009 season at Orca Field on the Whatcom Community College campus against Sonoma State (L, 2-1), Evergreen State (W, 4-1), Humboldt State (W, 2-1), Chico State (L, 3-2) and Metro State (L, 2-1).

 

Here is a statistical comparison through the first week of the season for the Vikings and two opponents this week:

 

 

Following this week's schedule to conclude the four-game homestand to open the season, the Vikings take to the road for the first time September 19-21 with a road game at Westminster and a neutral-site game vs. Regis, with both games in Salt Lake City, Utah. The conference schedule begins October 3 at Western Oregon.

 

Here is a look at the series history between the Vikings and opponents this week:

 

·         Cal State LA: WWU has played CSLA six times in program history going 0-4-2 in the series…the Vikings played the No. 6 Golden Eagles to a 1-1 in the last meeting on Sept. 3, 2015 at Harrington Field.

·         Cal State Dominguez Hills: Saturday marks the 10th meeting in the all-time series between the Vikings and Toros…WWU is 2-7-0 all-time vs. CSUDH with the last meeting in 2009…Toros have won the last four in the series…series is tied 2-2-0 in games played in Bellingham, with the last CSUDH trip to Whatcom County in 2008.

 

All home games feature a live webcast via Vikings TV and live statistical updates. Fans that choose to watch the games in the comfort of their home or on their devices, can point their browsers to the following links or by searching for "WWU Athletics" on YouTube:

 

·         Vikings TV – wwuvikings.com/VikingsTV

·         Live Stats – wwuvikings.com/MS_Stats

 

Tickets can be purchased at the Harrington Field Office beginning one hour prior to kickoff. Current WWU students gain free admission to all home events in 2024-25 by showing their active W card at the entrance. Free fan parking is available in C lots adjacent to Harrington Field. Advanced ticket sales and season ticket packages are also available online at wwuvikings.com/Tickets.

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

The Vikings are listed in a tie for 3rd place in the 2024 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. Coming off a 6-6-6 overall record in 2023 and a tie for 3rd-place finish in the conference, the Vikings received 32 points in a vote of the conference's seven head coaches. Defending champion Simon Fraser is listed first with 43 points and gathering five first-place votes. Western Oregon is 2nd with 41 points and the remaining two first-place votes. WWU is tied with rival Seattle Pacific for the No. 3 spot ahead of No. 5 Northwest Nazarene (25 points). Here is a look at the final voting tally from the 2024 GNAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll:

 

 

The Vikings are led by four co-captains in 2024 with seniors Lucas Hakamada and Jacob Sundberg, junior Joar Tidblom and sophomore Edgar Serrano forming the team leadership group.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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For the fourth time in the last seven years, the WWU men's soccer team has earned the prestigious United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award. The Vikings maintained a team GPA of 3.48 during the 2023-24 academic year to lead all teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Western also landed a Starting XI on the GNAC All-Academic team in 2023, extending an impressive stretch placing at least 10 student-athletes on the GNAC All-Academic team in each of the last seven years, combining for 82 academic all-conference honors during this stretch beginning in 2017.

 

Since moving home games to Harrington Field on the south edge of campus in 2014, the Vikings have combined to go 47-23-15 for a .641 winning percentage (1-0-1 in 2024, 4-2-2 in 2023, 7-1-3 in 2022). WWU is 30-11-8 at Harrington Field over the last six seasons (since 2018). Combining with the WWU women's team, both programs have combined to go 134-29-22 (.784) playing at Harrington Field.

 

In his 12th season as head coach and 23rd associated with WWU soccer, head coach Greg Brisbon returns a veteran squad that went 6-6-6 overall and were in contention for the GNAC title until the final week of the season with an 3-4-5 mark in conference play. The Vikings played in the 2019 NCAA Championships and in the midst of a strong eight-season stretch (since 2016) combining to go 69-41-24 (.604) with a 44-23-15 (.628) record in GNAC play. Brisbon owns an all-time head coaching record of 94-63-31 (.582). He is assisted in 2024 by Chuck Pitts, Matt Zigulis and Kyle Langowski.

 

Fans can follow WWU men's soccer online at WWUVikings.com/MSOC, and via social media on Twitter (@SoccerWWU), Instagram (@wwu_msoccer) and Facebook (@WWUsoccermens).

 

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.