BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's soccer battled No. 3 Cal State LA in a narrow 1-0 defeat Thursday evening in non-conference action at Harrington Field.

The Vikings and Golden Eagles were limited in scoring chances in the defensive-minded game with each back line holding the opponent at bay. 

Cal State LA (2-0-0) scored the lone goal in the 83rd minute on a penalty kick by Sergio Vega. The Golden Eagles won the PK when Vega was tackled in the box on a foul by WWU defender Krubelle Tesfaye, and Vega stepped up to the spot where he placed the ball just out of the reach of diving Viking goalkeeper Charlie Dyer.

Western had the first scoring chance in the 19th minute when Andrew Rotter sent a left-footed pass across the box where Albin Jonsson got a clean look at the goal but volleyed it just to the right of the crossbar. Rotter also had a shot saved by CSLA goalkeeper Diego Bravo in the 30th minute. Dyer made a one-handed save on a shot by Luke Varav in the 24th minute.

The Vikings nearly put the go-ahead goal in the net in at the 62-minute mark when Edgar Serrano's corner was delivered into the box where defender Joar Tidblom headed it towards goal. Bravo made another save to keep the game scoreless.

Dyer made three saves for the Vikings and the only two goals he has allowed through the first three games have come on penalty kicks. 

The Golden Eagles, the 2021 national champions and an Elite 8 team a year ago, held a slim 13-12 advantage in shots and led 4-3 in shots on goal. WWU took seven corner kicks compared to the two by LA.

Cal State LA played the final five minutes a player down after Rene Cortez received his second yellow card of the match, but the Golden Eagles withstood the pressure from the Vikings to gain the 1-0 victory.
 

The Vikings (1-1-1) close out the four-game homestand hosting Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-1-0) on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm at Harrington Field. CSUDH defeated Seattle Pacific 6-2 Thursday evening at Interbay Stadium. The complete 2024 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/24_MSOC.

#3 Cal State LA 1, Western Washington 0

Date: September 12, 2024

Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 202

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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#3 Cal State LA...............  0  1  -  1

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

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      82:48     CSLA     Vega (PK)

Shots: CSLA 13, WWU 12

Shots on Goal: CSLA 4, WWU 3

Saves: WWU 3 (Dyer – 3), CSLA 3 (Bravo – 3)

Corners: WWU 7, CSLA 2

Fouls: WWU 14, CSLA 8

Offsides: WWU 2, CSLA 2

Kits: WWU (White), CSLA (Black)

Updated Records: WWU (1-1-1), CSLA (2-0-0)

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 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.