BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Another busy week of events and competition is on tap for Western Washington University Athletics for the week of October 20-26.

 

The red-hot men's soccer team closes out the home portion of its schedule with two games at Harrington Field and the cross country program is aiming for a four-peat at the GNAC Championships in Billings, Montana.

 

With the official start to basketball season right around the corner, the Viking men's hoops team hosts a preseason exhibition game Wednesday against Northwest Indian College celebrating Native Heritage Night with tip-off at 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. NWIC is located just across Bellingham Bay on Lummi Nation.

 

In addition to the basketball preseason game Wednesday and men's soccer games Thursday and Saturday, the two-time defending GNAC champion WWU Softball team closes out its fall schedule with the annual alumni game at noon at Viking Field.

 

All event information, including ticket prices and live game coverage, can be found online at WWUVikings.com. For the third consecutive year, all current WWU students receive free admission to home regular-season games.

 

The Vikings enter the postseason portion of the schedule with the 2025 GNAC Cross Country Championships held Saturday at Amend Park in Billings, Montana. WWU is the three-time defending champion for both the men and women in the conference meet, including sweeping team titles at home last year with the event held at Sudden Valley Golf Course. Both teams are ranked in the top 30 nationally by the USTFCCCA with the men at No. 9 and women No. 21 following solid team performances at the Lewis Invitational on October 11. The Viking men are listed No. 1 in the West Region, the first time in program history to hold the top ranking in the region. 

 

• Men Ranking: #9 (National), #1 (West Region)
• Women Ranking: #21 (National), #4 (West Region)

 

Saturday, October 25:

GNAC Championships (Billings, MT - Amend Park)

Women's 6k (10 am MT/9 am PT) | Men's 8K (11 am MT/10 am PT)

Live Results | Meet Info

 

About the Viks:

• Looking For FOUR – The Vikings have swept the last three GNAC Cross Country Championships with the men and women winning titles each year in 2023, 2024 and 2025…both teams have won four of the last five GNAC XC titles.
• Crossing the Line – The WWU men will be looking for a third consecutive individual winner with Kevin McDermott (2024 in Anchorage) and Jeret Gillingham (2025 in Bellingham) crossing the line first…the previous Viking individual winner was Paul Kezes in 2002.
• GNAC Dominance – WWU has claimed the last 14 team titles in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field dating back to the 2023 outdoor championships.
• Men's Projected Lineup – Sten Brakstad, Jonah Billings, Jared Alderfer, George Fernandez, Cale O'Day, Spencer Zeljak, Logan Werner, Eduardo Tobon Sanchez, Leaf McQuillen, Nate Rumberger.
• Women's Projected Lineup – Ella Edens, Sabrina Colbert, Emmy Kroontje, Jill Philbin, Danielle McLain, Alexis Parker, Cecilia Villagomez Edvalson, Laura Halsell, Josephine Stevenson, Olivia Friedrich.

 

The Vikings remain on the road completing a string of three consecutive games away from Harrington Field with GNAC contests at Saint Martin's and Western Oregon. Trip to Lacey and Monmouth, Oregon concludes the road schedule for the regular season, with the final four games at Harrington Field. WWU has a current 6-game winning streak and is undefeated over its last 10 games (9-0-1) to own the top spot in the GNAC standings. The Vikings are 9-1-3 overall and 7-0-1 in conference games. 

 

• Overall Record: 9-1-3
• GNAC: 7-0-1 (1st place)
• Trend: 6-game winning streak, 10-game unbeaten streak (9-0-1)
• National Ranking: #11    West Region: #2

 

Thursday, October 23:

at Saint Martin's – 2 pm (Lacey, WA - Saints Field)

GNAC Network | Live Stats

 

Saturday, October 25:

at Western Oregon – 7 pm (Monmouth, OR - WOU Soccer Field)

GNAC Network | Live Stats

 

About the Viks:

• Offensive Surge – Scored at least three goals in five consecutive games and seven of last nine…leads the GNAC and in top 15 in the nation averaging 2.69 goals per game.
• Player of the Week – Senior Claire Potter was selected as the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week contributing on three goals last week vs. NNU and SFU.
• Undefeated Stretch – Over last 10 games Vikings are undefeated at 9-0-1 with current 6-game winning streak…last loss was a 3-2 setback against then No. 1 Colorado School of Mines on September 10 in Golden, Colorado.
• Manalili's Goals – Senior Morgan Manalili leads the GNAC and ranks 7th in NCAA II with 10 goals...also has 7 assists for 27 points to tie for 2nd nationally.
  • In WWU history tied for 10th in career goals (28), 7th in assists (23), 9th in points (79), 3rd in game-winning goals (15) and 24th in games played (82).
• Hardin's Minutes – Senior Asia Hardin is WWU's all-time leader in minutes played with 7,260…in 81 career games (all starts) Hardin has missed 30 minutes in games she has suited up.
• National Champions – WWU is the 2016 and 2022 NCAA II National Champions…advanced to the NCAA Championships in 11 of the last 12 seasons.
• Harrington Field – 5-0-0 in games at Harrington Field this season and 97-7-9 all-time at its home pitch…will play final four games of regular season at home.

 

The Vikings close out the home portion of their schedule this week hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and rival Seattle Pacific on Saturday for Senior Night, with both games featuring 7 pm kickoff at Harrington Field. WWU has a current 7-game unbeaten streak, going 6-0-1 during this stretch, and is in first place in the GNAC with a 4-0-1 conference record (13 points). After starting the year 0-4-2 in the first six games, the Vikings have turned their season around with a current overall mark of 6-4-3 in 13 games.

 

• Overall Record: 6-4-3
• GNAC: 4-0-1 (1st place)
• Trend: 2-game winning streak, 7-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1)
• National Ranking: NR    West Region: #10

 

Thursday, October 23:

Northwest Nazarene – 7 pm (Harrington Field)

GNAC Network | Live Stats

Free Parking in C Lots

 

Saturday, October 25:

Seattle Pacific – 7 pm (Harrington Field)

GNAC Network | Live Stats

Senior Night

Free Parking in C Lots

 

About the Viks:

• GNAC Standings – In first place in the GNAC table with 13 points going 4-0-1 in five conference games.
• The Turnaround – After starting the season 0-4-2, the Vikings have gone 6-0-1 in their last 7 games…in first six games the team combined to score four goals, and in last seven have 17 goals.
• Joar in the GNAC – Senior Joar Tidblom leads the team and is 2nd in the GNAC with 7 goals.
• Reiley's Assists – Sophomore Reiley Buri-Brown leads the GNAC with 6 assists.
• Senior Night – WWU celebrates its eight-player senior class prior to Saturday's game with Albin Jonsson, Diego Lopez, Miles Tennant, Krubelle Tesfaye, Joar Tidblom, Frank Miedema, Sebastiano Silvetti and Collin Anderson playing their final game at Harrington Field.

 

WWU opens the second half of the conference slate tied for first place in the standings with a 7-2 GNAC record. The Vikings are 13-3 overall while playing a tough schedule that includes six ranked opponents. Western's second-half GNAC schedule begins with a trip to play at SPU on Thursday and MSUB on Saturday, returning home next week hosting Saint Martin's (10/30) and Western Oregon (11/1) in 7 pm matches on WECU Court in Carver Gym. 

 

• Overall Record: 13-3
• GNAC: 7-2 (T-1st place)
• National Ranking: #19

 

Thursday, October 23:

at Seattle Pacific – 7 pm (Seattle, WA - Brougham Pavilion)

GNAC Network | Live Stats

 

Saturday, October 25:

at Montana State Billings – 2 pm MT/1 pm PT (Billings, MT - Alterowitz Gym)

GNAC Network | Live Stats

 

About the Viks:

• GNAC Standings – Tied for 1st place in the GNAC with Alaska Fairbanks and Simon Fraser with 7-2 record in conference games.
• Devyn's Big Stats – Senior Devyn Oestreich leads the GNAC and ranks 23rd in NCAA II averaging 4.03 kills per set…also amongst GNAC leaders in aces (0.43/set, 3rd), digs (3.83/set, 9th) and hitting pct. (.311, 4th)…tallied 12 double-doubles…approaching 800 career kills (currently 790) and 1000 digs (currently 953).
• Killer D – Junior Delaney Speer is averaging 3.58 kills and 3.03 digs per set starting all 16 matches.
• Like a Voss – Junior middle Emily Vossenkuhl is 3rd in the conference in hitting percentage (.318) and 6th in blocks per set (1.14).
• True Freshmen – Three true freshman – Maren Stuber, Brooke Berglund, Dani Turcinec – have played for the Vikings this season.
• In Carver Gym – Owns 6-1 record in home matches this season and overall 327-93 (.779) in Carver Gym.

 

WWU hosts its first official preseason game Wednesday against Northwest Indian College with tip-off at 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The Vikings enter the 2025-26 season picked No. 4 (tie) in the Preseason GNAC Coaches Poll. The official season opener is less than two weeks away with three games at the D2 Canadian Tip-Off Classic October 31-November 2.

 

The Vikings open the 2025-26 season October 31-November 2 at the D2 Canadian Tip-Off Classic with games against Colorado Mesa, Minot State and Parkside at the Langley Events Centre. WWU is preparing for the upcoming season with two closed-door scrimmages against Division I programs. The Vikings earned the top spot in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll highlighted by preseason all-conference selections Libby Stump, Demi Dykstra and Aspen Garrison.

 

Completed the fall portion of the schedule with four solid tournament finishes. Turned in a winning performance at the Otter Invitational in the final fall tournament, tied for first place at the SMU Bishop Invitational and earned third-place finishes as the WWU Invitational and the Chico State Wildcat Classic. Recorded a team average scoring round of 284.4 (-4 to par) with junior Conrad Brown leading the GNAC with a scoring average of 70.3 (-2 to par) turning in 11 of 12 rounds at par or better. WWU's next tournament is scheduled for February 9-10, 2026 at the Fujikura Invitational hosted by Cal State San Marcos. 

 

The Vikings have one remaining fall tournament teeing it up October 27-28 at the Cal State East Bay Fall Tournament at Stonebrae Country Club in Hayward, California. Through the first two fall tournaments the Vikings have shown they will be a contender for the GNAC title placing second out of 13 teams at the Grisham Memorial Shootout and was 12th out of 21 teams at the NCAA Regional Preview in Pueblo, Colorado. Senior Lauren F. Lee (74.0) and freshman Carly Ikei (74.5) lead the team and rank No. 2 and No. 3 in the GNAC in scoring average.