CHICO, Calif. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team opened the 2025 season with a 1-1 road draw at West Region foe Chico State University Thursday evening at University Soccer Stadium.

After conceding a goal just 21 seconds into the match on the first possession of the game, the Vikings settled down and eventually found the late equalizer in the 82nd minute. Senior defender Diego Lopez launched his throw-in from the sideline into the middle of the 6-yard box where freshman Jack Haegele headed home the game-tying goal with just over eight minutes remaining in the contest.

WWU held an 12-8 advantage in total shots, while Chico State edged the Vikings 6-2 in shots on frame. Junior goalkeeper Charlie Dyer made five saves to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard the remaining 89 minutes of the game after the early goal.

Lopez, sophomore midfielder Reiley Buri-Brown and senior defenders Krubelle Tesfaye and Sebastiano Silvetti all played the full 90 for the Vikings. WWU was without senior co-captain defender Joar Tidblom, who served his one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation from last season. Junior co-captain midfielder Edgar Serrano was also not available due to an injury sustained during the preseason. Eight Vikings made their collegiate debut in the game.

The Vikings (0-0-1) remains on the road to open the season with a road game Saturday night against Stanislaus State with kickoff slated for 7 pm in Turlock. The complete 2025 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/25_MSOC.

Western Washington 1, Chico State 1

Date: September 4, 2025

Field: University Stadium   Site: Chico, CA

Attendance: 267

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

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

Chico State...................  1  0  -  1

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.       00:21     CHICO     Peterson

2.       81:48     WWU       Haegele (Lopez)

Shots: WWU 12, CHICO 8

Shots on Goal: CHICO 6, WWU 2

Saves: WWU 5 (Dyer - 5), CHICO 1 (Miller – 1)

Corners: WWU 8, CHICO 3

Fouls: WWU 7, CHICO 6

Offsides: WWU 2, CHICO 1

Kits: WWU (White), CHICO (Black)

Updated Records: WWU (0-0-1), CHICO (0-0-1)

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

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 45th varsity season in 2024 and has recorded a season record at or above the .500 mark in 12 of the last 13 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.