BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Senior Andrew Rotter delivered the game-winning goal in the 79th minute to lift the Western Washington University men's soccer team to a season-opening 1-0 victory over No. 18 nationally-ranked Chico State Thursday at Harrington Field.

Rotter (Auburn, WA/Mountainview HS) found the back of the net at the 78:31 mark to break open the scoreless game. Junior Albin Jonsson (Skellefteå, Sweden) started the goal sequence from a cross across the box, which senior midfielder Adan Fernandez (Snohomish, WA/Jackson HS) tapped towards the far post to find Rotter with the game-winning finish.

Roetter's heroics in the last 12 minutes helped earn a clean sheet for sophomore goalkeeper Charlie Dyer (Seattle, WA/West Seattle HS/San Jose State), who made four saves between the pipes in his WWU debut.

"It's the first game of the season and it's always difficult. Neither team was as sharp as they are going to be in a few weeks. Chico State is an organized and well-coached team," said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. "This is a testament to our program to get the opening day win. Now we need to get some rest as we face another tough opponent Saturday when Sonoma State comes to Harrington Field."

Chico State goalkeeper Emanuel Padilla made five saves while playing all 90 minutes for the Wildcats.

WWU held an 11-8 advantage in total shots and edged Chico State 6-4 in shots on goal. 
 

The Vikings (1-0) continue its busy opening week schedule hosting Sonoma State University on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 1 pm at Harrington Field. The complete 2024 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/24_MSOC.

Western Washington 1, #18 Chico State 0

2024 Season Opener

Date: September 5, 2024

Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 122

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

Chico State...................  0  0  -  0

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

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      78:31     WWU     Rotter (Jonsson, Fernandez)

Shots: WWU 11, CHICO 8

Shots on Goal: WWU 6, CHICO 4

Saves: WWU 4 (Dyer – 4), CHICO 5 (Padilla – 5)

Corners: CHICO 4, WWU 3

Fouls: WWU 18, CHICO 10

Offsides: WWU 0, CHICO 0

Kits: WWU (Navy), CHICO (White)

WWU improved to 4-4-0 vs. Chico State dating back to the 2016 season and 11-13-0 during the entirety of the all-time series vs. the Wildcats. The Vikings also improved to 4-5-0 all-time in home games vs. Chico State and 2-2-0 at Harrington Field.

The Vikings improved to 14-23-8 all-time in the first game of a season in the 45-year history of the program. Over the last nine seasons (since 2016) WWU is 3-4-2 in lid lifters. The Vikings are undefeated in their last three openers going 1-0-2.

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.