Western Washington University Athletics

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Junior midfielder Lunden Fenster scored in the 81st minute to break a 1-1 tie sending the Western Washington University men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over No. 5 nationally ranked Stanislas State University Saturday evening at Harrington Field.

 

WWU improved to 2-0-0 on the season after defeating Chico State 3-2 in Thursday's season opener against Chico State. Stanislaus State dropped to 0-2-0 after opening its Northwest road trip with a 3-1 loss to Seattle Pacific Thursday night.

 

"A great start to the season for us. I am really proud of the group for how they battled tonight, worked for each other and found a way to win against a quality opponent," said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. "I am looking forward to watching out team compete next week."

 

The fast-paced game was tied 1-1 at the half with the two teams exchanging goals in the 25th minute (WWU) and 32nd minute (Stanislaus State). 

 

Western opened the scoring at the 24:24 mark after putting early pressure on the Stanislaus State defense generating five corner kicks in the opening 11 minutes and 11 shots prior to sophomore midfielder Landon Schulze finding the back of the net. Schulze corralled a header from junior Reiley Buri-Brown at the top of the 18-yard box, turned and fired a left-footed shot that hit the inside of the crossbar and down into the goal.

 

Stanislaus State equalized at the 31:30 mark when Adrian Yepez one-timed a pass from Cameron Belandres from 8-yards-out with a right-footed shot.

 

The Warriors had two quick shots to open the second half, with WWU junior goalkeeper Quinn Sappington making a diving save early in the 48th minute to keep the game tied.

 

The breakthrough for the Vikings came in the 81st minute when Schulze and Fenster combined on a one-two passing combination, and Fenster finishing with a powerful right-footed shot at the top of the 6-yard box into the top right corner.

 

The Vikings held a 27-9 advantage in total shots and 9-3 in shots on goal. WWU also had a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks. Sappington made a pair of saves in his second career start between the pipes.

 

 

The Vikings (2-0-0) remains at home as part of a four-game homestand to open the 2026 season hosting No. 7 Point Loma on Thursday and Westmont on Saturday in 7 pm games at Harrington Field. The complete 2026 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/MSOC.

 

Junior Lunden Fenster scored a goal in each of his first two games as a Viking, including Saturday's game-winning goal, and also drew a pair of penalties leading to goals in Thursday's 3-2 win over Chico State … WWU won its first two games of a season for the first time since 2018 (won first three games) … the win over the top-5 ranked Warriors was the first for the Vikings over a top-5 team since defeating then No. 1 Simon Fraser on November 1, 2018 … Reiley Buri-Brown has recorded an assist in each of the two games this season, giving him 14 in 37 career games to tie for 8th-most in WWU history.

 

Western Washington 2, #5 Stanislaus State 1

Date: August 29, 2026

Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 226

 

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

#5 Stanislaus State...........  1  0  -  1

Western Washington............  1  1  -  2

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.       24:24     WWU       Schulze (Buri-Brown, Perez)

2.       31:30     STAN      Yepez (Belandres, Solares)

3.       80:56     WWU       Fenster (Schulze)

 

Shots: WWU 27, STAN 9

Shots on Goal: WWU 9, STAN 3

Saves: WWU 2 (Sappington - 2), STAN 7 (Isasi - 7)

Corners: WWU 10, STAN 0

Fouls: WWU 14, STAN 11

Offsides: WWU 2, STAN 1

Kits: WWU (Navy), STAN (White)

Updated Records: WWU (2-0-0), STAN (0-2-0)

 

Here is a look at Western's record breakdown for the 2026 season:

 

 

Here is a look at the Vikings 2026 schedule and game-by-game results: