DENVER – The Western Washington University women's soccer team opened the 2025 season earning a 1-1 draw on the road against MSU Denver.

The Vikings and Roadrunners played a scoreless first half before MSUD went ahead in the 57th minute on a goal by Jenelle Arenibas with Madrid Mack credited with the assist.

WWU found the equalizer with just over 11 minutes remaining in the 90-minute match when senior forward Claire Potter finding the back of the net at the 78:51 mark. Junior defender Olivia Connell crossed the ball from the right side and senior midfielder Morgan Manalili set up Potter with a shot from the center of the box from 16 yards out. The goal was the 10th of Potter's career and Manalili recorded her 17th career assist to move into a tie for 14th in program history.

"We showed a lot of determination today, responding after conceding a goal, and creating a lot of good chances," said WWU head coach Travis Connell. "We scored a goal in workman like fashion to tie the game. We can build on this performance heading into our next match on Sunday."

The Vikings held a 6-4 advantage in total shots and 5-3 in shots on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Ava Courtney made a pair of saves in her first collegiate start.

The Vikings (0-0-1) remain on the road for the second game of their season-opening three-game trip to Colorado, facing UC Colorado Springs on Sunday with kickoff set for 2 pm MT/1 pm PT at Mountain Lion Stadium. The complete 2025 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/25_WSOC.

Western Washington 1, MSU Denver 1

Date: September 4, 2025

Field: Assembly Athletic Complex     Site: Denver, CO

Attendance: 250

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

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

MSU Denver....................  0  1  -  1

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.      56:17      MSUD      Arenibas (Mack)

2.      78:51      WWU       Potter (Manalili)

Shots: WWU 6, MSUD 4

Shots on Goal: WWU 5, MSUD 3

Saves: WWU 2 (Courtney – 2), MSUD 4 (Caballero - 4)

Corners: WWU 7, MSUD 0

Fouls: MSUD 8, WWU 6

Offsides: WWU 0, MSUD 0

Kits: WWU (Black)

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

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

The Western Washington University women's soccer program has risen to the top of the Division II ranks, appearing in the NCAA Championships in 11 of the last 12 seasons and winning a pair of national championships in 2016 and 2022. WWU has advanced to the NCAA II Final Four in five of the last 11 seasons and played for the West Region championship in nine of the last 12 seasons (seven consecutive from 2015-22). The Vikings won the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 2-1 win over No. 1 nationally ranked West Chester, played for the 2019 national title and won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016 with an undefeated 24-0-1 record, beating three-time defending national champion Grand Valley State 3-2 in the title game in Kansas City, Missouri. The program has claimed nine of the last 13 Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season titles (2024 Champions) and won five of the last eight GNAC Tournament titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022). Head coach Travis Connell is in his 23rd season leading the program in 2025 (30th overall at WWU) and has led the Vikings to 12 trips to the NCAA Championships and 19 consecutive winning seasons.