BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University Women's soccer team was a few inches away from netting a game-tying goal in the second half, but ultimately dropped its non-conference finale Sunday against No. 3 nationally-ranked Colorado School of Mines 2-0 at Harrington Field.

 

The Vikings dropped to 1-2-2 on the season while being shut out for the third time this season, while the Orediggers remained perfect at 6-0-0.

 

Sunday's match-up of perennial national powers and re-match of the 2022 national quarterfinal won by the Vikings at Harrington Field en route to the national title featured a third sibling rivalry game between WWU junior midfielder Morgan Manalili and twin sister Kaitlyn on Colorado School of Mines.

 

Mines took the lead late in the first half on a goal in the 44th minute (43:44) by Ava Harman.

 

WWU pressured the Orediggers throughout the second half looking for the equalizer, including an early scoring chance with Morgan Manalili taking a shot that was saved by CSM goalkeeper Allie Lungren just 65 seconds into the half.

 

Early in the 72nd minute junior Abby Succi took a shot from just outside the box that struck the right post and a subsequent follow-up header shot by senior Lydia Myers was saved to keep the Orediggers up 1-0.

 

Moments after the two-shot sequence from the Vikings, Colorado School of Mines raced down the field and scored an insurance goal by Reese McDermott to go up 2-0.

 

The Orediggers held a 12-10 advantage in shots (9-4 shots on goal) and WWU edged Mines 4-3 in corner kicks.

 

WWU senior goalkeeper Grace Wales made her first collegiate start making one save in 30 minutes before leaving with an injury following a collision. Freshman Ava Courtney came in and made six saves in her WWU debut. Senior goalkeeper Abigail Trengove, the starter in WWU's first four games, was not available for the game.
 

 

The Vikings (1-2-2) have a pair of games scheduled next week with the GNAC opener Thursday at Simon Fraser on Burnaby Mountain (6 pm) and another home game Saturday hosting rival Seattle Pacific with kickoff at 7 pm at Harrington Field. The complete 2024 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/24_WSOC.

 

#3 Colorado School of Mines 2, Western Washington 0

Date: September 22, 2024

Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 422

 

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

Colo. School of Mines.........  1  1  -  2

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

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      43:44     CSM     Harman (Butler, McDermott)

2.      71:24     CSM     McDermott (Putnam)

 

Shots: CSM 12, WWU 10

Shots on Goal: CSM 9, WWU 4

Saves: WWU 7 (Courtney – 6, Wales – 1), CSM 4 (Lundgren - 4)

Corners: WWU 4, CSM 3

Fouls: WWU 12, CSM 9

Offsides: CSM 2, WWU 1

Kits: WWU (Light Blue), CSM (White)

Updated Records: WWU (1-2-2), CSM (6-0-0)

 

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 GNAC Championships will be held November 14-16 at Interbay Stadium in Seattle and the NCAA Division II Championships open with the first and second rounds November 21-24:

 

 

Fans can follow WWU women's soccer online at WWUVikings.com/WSOC, and via social media on Twitter/X (@WWU_WSoccer), Instagram (@wwu_wsoccer) and Facebook (@WWUsoccerwomens). 

 

The Western Washington University women's soccer program has risen to the top of the Division II ranks, appearing in the NCAA Championships in 10 of the last 11 seasons and winning a pair of national championships in 2016 and 2022. WWU has advanced to the NCAA II Final Four in five of the last 10 seasons and played for the West Region championship in nine of the last 11 seasons (seven consecutive from 2015-22). The Vikings won the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 2-1 win over No. 1 nationally-ranked West Chester, played for the 2019 national title and won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016 with an undefeated 24-0-1 record, beating three-time defending national champion Grand Valley State 3-2 in the title game in Kansas City, Missouri. The program has claimed eight of the last 12 Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season titles (2022 Champions) and won five of the last eight GNAC Tournament titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022). Head coach Travis Connell is in his 22nd season leading the program in 2024 (29th overall at WWU) and has led the Vikings to 12 trips to the NCAA Championships and 19 consecutive winning seasons.