BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A goal in the 88th minute by senior Joar Tidblom lifted the Western Washington University men's soccer team to a 2-1 home victory over Simon Fraser University Saturday evening at a rainy and windy Harrington Field.

The Vikings held a 15-3 advantage in corner kicks over the Red Leafs, with both goals scored off set pieces from the corner off the left foot of sophomore Reiley Buri-Brown.

The victory improved WWU to 6-4-3 overall and extended its lead in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with 13 points at 4-0-1. The Vikings are unbeaten over their last seven games (6-0-1) after opening the season 0-4-2 in the first six. SFU dropped to 3-7-3 overall and 2-2-1 in conference games.

After a scoreless first half, Western opened the scoring in the 64th minute when freshman Jack Haegele placed a header off the bottom of the crossbar and down into the goal for his second collegiate goal. Buri-Brown lifted the ball into the center of the 18-yard box where freshman Zack Robertson headed it towards goal, where Haegele finished the job with his header from close quarters.

SFU answered early in the 73rd minutes when Kundalini Bien-Aimé Dominique found the back of the net with his finish inside the far post. 

With less than three minutes remaining, the Vikings took their 15th corner kick and put home the game winner. Buri-Brown curled the ball in the wind towards the far post with Tidblom connecting on a clean header for his team-leading seventh goal of the season.

"Tonight was a very good win in tough conditions with the weather and SFU was a good opponent," said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. "We stuck with what we have been doing the last six games, finding a way to win at get three important points at home. I felt we were good on set pieces tonight, which led to both of our goals. We are looking forward to our games next week to close out the three-game homestand."

SFU held a 15-12 advantage in total shots, but WWU edged the Red Leafs 7-5 in shots on goal. WWU junior goalkeeper Charlie Dyer made four saves while playing as the reigning GNAC Defensive Player of the Year.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The Vikings (6-4-3, 4-0-1 GNAC) remain at home next week closing out the schedule of games at Harrington Field hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday (7 pm) and rival Seattle Pacific on Saturday for Senior Night (7 pm). The complete 2025 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/25_MSOC.

Western Washington 2, Simon Fraser 1

Date: October 18, 2025

Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 175

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

Simon Fraser..................  0  1  -  1

Western Washington............  0  2  -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.     63:54        WWU        Haegele (Buri-Brown, Robertson)

2.     72:10        SFU        Dominique (Hennessy, Macgowan)

3.     87:17        WWU        Tidblom (Buri-Brown)

Shots: SFU 15, WWU 12

Shots on Goal: WWU 7, SFU 5

Saves: WWU 4 (Dyer - 4), SFU 5 (Thorsen - 4)

Corners: WWU 15, SFU 3

Fouls: WWU 10, SFU 10

Offsides: WWU 1, SFU 1

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

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

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

Here is a look at the GNAC Men's Soccer standings following Saturday's games to conclude the third week of the 2025 conference slate. The top three teams in the conference standings at the end of the regular season will qualify for the inaugural 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.