BURNABY, B.C. – The Western Washington University women's soccer team opened Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a 1-0 victory over Simon Fraser University on a rainy Thursday evening on top of Burnaby Mountain.

 

WWU scored in the 59th minute to pick up three points in the conference opener over the previously undefeated and defending GNAC Tournament champion Red Leafs. Western stands at 2-2-2 on the season and 1-0-0 in GNAC play heading into Saturday's rivalry match vs. Seattle Pacific. SFU dropped to 4-1-0 on the season after entering the week receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll.

 

"We have a lot of belief in ourselves so we were excited for this trip to open conference play," said WWU head coach Travis Connell. "We improved throughout the game and were forced to solve some of the challenges a good team like SFU presented us. We created more chances in the second half and got a positive result."

 

The Vikings pulled ahead in the 58th minute when junior Morgan Manalili took Western's first corner kick of the game and delivered a brilliant ball into the box where senior Lydia Myers headed into the back of the net for her team-leading second goal of the season.

 

After a scoreless first 45 minutes, the Vikings controlled the second half holding an 8-1 advantage on shots in the final stanza.

 

WWU's defense secured its third shutout of the season with Asia Hardin and Mie Cairns both played the full 90, teaming with senior goalkeeper Abigail Trengove (pair of saves) to record the clean sheet. Sophomore Olivia Connell prevented a potential go-ahead goal moments before the conclusion of the first half, blocking a shot taken by Raegan MacKenzie.

 

WWU won its 13th consecutive game at Terry Fox Field and extended its unbeaten streak to 15 consecutive games in vs. the Red Leafs in Burnaby dating back to 2008.

 

"I feel like we have had a lot of good performances early in the season, but it is good to get a result like this," added Connell. "We played hard, played well, just didn't get the result in a few games to this is nice and something to build off heading into our next game."

 

The Vikings (2-2-2, 1-0-0 GNAC)) return home to Harrington Field Saturday hosting rival Seattle Pacific (3-1-1, 1-0-0 GNAC) with kickoff at 7 pm. The theme for WWU students will be a Blue Out to cap an exciting first week of the fall quarter. The complete 2024 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/24_WSOC.

 

Western Washington 1, Simon Fraser 0

GNAC Opener

Date: September 26, 2024

Field: Terry Fox Field at SFU Stadium   Site: Burnaby, BC

Attendance: 168

 

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

Western Washington............  0  1  -  1

Simon Fraser..................  0  0  -  0

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      57:54     WWU       Myers (Manalili)

 

Shots: WWU 12, SFU 9

Shots on Goal: WWU 4, SFU 2

Saves: WWU 2 (Trengove - 2), SFU 3 (Loewen – 3)

Corners: SFU 3, WWU 2

Fouls: SFU 10, WWU 7

Offsides: WWU 3, SFU 0

Kits: WWU (Light Blue), SFU (Red)

Updated Records: WWU (2-2-2, 1-0-0), SFU (4-1-0, 0-1-0)

 

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

 

 

Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings and weekly schedule for the opening week of conference play. Updated conference standings, schedules, results and statistics can be found online at GNACsports.com.

 

 

WWU improved to 38-18-3 all-time vs. SFU and 19-9-2 vs. the Red Leafs on the road…the Vikings have won 25 of the last 27 games vs. SFU and are unbeaten in 30 of the last 31…WWU is 14-0-1 in last 15 games on Burnaby Mountain (vs. SFU) and has a 13-game winning streak vs. the Red Leafs on Terry Fox Field.

 

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.