BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 14 nationally ranked Western Washington University women's soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to nine consecutive games scoring three first-half goals in a 3-1 victory over Northwest Nazarene Thursday under the lights at Harrington Field.

 

The Vikings remained perfect a 5-0-0 at Harrington Field this season (97-7-9/.898 all-time) to move the overall season record to 8-1-3. WWU remained in a first-place tie with Simon Fraser at the top of the GNAC table at 6-0-1 (19 points) with its fifth consecutive victory. Over the last nine games Western is 8-0-1.

 

The victory over NNU sets up a Saturday match against Simon Fraser featuring two unbeaten teams in GNAC play, with SFU improving to 9-0-2 overall and 6-0-1 in conference play with a 3-0 victory over Central Washington Thursday night.

 

WWU clinched the season sweep over NNU also earning a 5-0 victory in the first conference contest on September 25. Dating back to the end of the 2023 season Western is undefeated in its last 22 conference games (18-0-4).

 

"We love playing at Harrington Field in front of our fans. Tonight we got off to a great start and it was great received contributions from so many players," said WWU head coach Travis Connell. "It is a testament to the depth on this roster."

 

After a close call on an opening-minute scoring opportunity for the Nighthawks, the Vikings went up 1-0 on a goal just under four minutes into the contest on another set-piece strike. Senior Emily Rice lifted a corner kick to the back post, junior defender Olivia Connell headed it back across the box and junior midfielder Mie Carins got a leg on the ball near the goal line placing it in the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season.

 

The Vikings played add-on with another goal less than 10 minutes into the match with senior forward Claire Potter scoring another set piece opportunity. Rice and senior midfielder Morgan Manalili combined on a short free kick from outside the box, with Rice lifting the ball into the area of the 6-yard box. Connell dueled an NNU defender with the ball redirected back to the near post with Potter scoring from nearly the exact spot as Cairns opening goal.

Early in the 32nd minute the Vikings made it 3-0 on yet another goal off a set piece with senior Abby Succi and freshman Alina Kravtsov connecting off a corner kick. Succi lined the ball towards the near post with Kravtsov getting her left foot on the ball redirecting it past the NNU goalkeeper for her second collegiate goal.

 

NNU got on the board in the 65th minute when Attie Jo Westbrook pressed WWU goalkeeper Ava Courtney and redirected a misplay into the left side netting at the 64:25 mark.

 

The Vikings defense remained strong through the second half, allowing only three shots on goal from NNU the entire night, with Courtney making a pair of saves after entering the game in the second half. WWU all-time minutes played leader Asia Hardin played the full 90 to help secure another victory.

 

WWU ended the night with a 15-4 edge in total shots and 5-3 shots on goal.

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The Vikings (8-1-3, 6-0-1 GNAC) return to action Saturday crossing the border to face undefeated No. 19 Simon Fraser (9-0-2, 6-0-1) with kickoff set for 6 pm at Terry Fox Field on top of Burnaby Mountain. The game will stream live via pay-per-view on the GNAC Network. The complete 2025 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/25_WSOC.

 

#14 Western Washington 3, Northwest Nazarene 1

Date: October 16, 2025

Field: Harrington Field     Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 201 

 

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

Northwest Nazarene............  0  1  -  1

Western Washington............  3  0  -  3

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.       3:50      WWU       Cairns (Rice, Connell)

2.       9:19      WWU       Potter (Rice, Connell)

3.      31:16      WWU       Kravtsov (Succi)

4.      64:25      NNU       Westbrook

 

Shots: WWU 15, NNU 4

Shots on Goal: WWU 5, NNU 3

Saves: WWU 2 (McGowan – 0, Courtney - 2), NNU 2 (Barrass - 2)

Corners: WWU 6, NNU 0

Fouls: WWU 10, NNU 7

Offsides: WWU 3, NNU 1

Kits: WWU (Light Blue), NNU (Black)

Updated Records: WWU (8-1-3, 6-0-1), NNU (3-7-1, 2-4-1)

 

Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2025 season:

 

W⚽️ | Watch goal highlights from the Vikings 3-1 win over Northwest Nazarene in GNAC play. WWU improved to 8-1-3 overall and 6-0-1 in conference play.

⚽️ Cairns 🅰️ Rice, Connell
⚽️ Potter 🅰️ Rice, Connell
⚽️ Kravtsov 🅰️ Succi pic.twitter.com/Q6YvWp5qe3
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) October 17, 2025
  

Here is a look at the GNAC Women's Soccer standings following Thursday's games to open the fourth week of the conference slate. WWU won its 10th regular-season title in 2024 going undefeated at 11-0-3 in GNAC play. The top four teams in the conference standings at the end of the regular season will qualify for the GNAC Championships held November 13-15 in Burnaby, BC hosted by Simon Fraser University. Updated conference standings, schedules, results and statistics can be found online at GNACsports.com.