Western Washington University Athletics

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Freshman Madeline Mays scored a hat trick – including a pair of second-half goals over a 25-second span – to lead the Western Washington University women's soccer team to a 3-0 home victory over Montana State Billings Thursday evening at a rainy Harrington Field.

 

The Vikings improved to 4-1-3 overall and remained unbeaten in three GNAC contests at 2-0-1 in conference games. MSUB dropped to 1-2-4 overall and 1-1-1 in league play.

 

WWU secured its fifth shutout of the season limiting the Yellowjackets to one shot in the 90-minute contest. 

 

"We were good on both sides of the ball tonight and was able to defend vigorously," said head coach Travis Connell. "We hang out hat on defense and had some big performances tonight. I think we had 19 players contribute to this victory, which shows the strength of the depth of our team."

 

The Vikings struck first in the 26th minute with Mays scoring her first collegiate goal. Senior midfielder Mie Cairns and sophomore defender Ella Witherspoon combined off a throw-in, with Witherspoon whipping the ball into the box. The ball pin-balled off a pair of heads before falling to Mays, who drilled it into the back of the net with a strong right-footed finish from 12 yards out.

 

The game remained scoreless through most of the second half, with Billings threatening with the equalizer in the 72nd minute in what ended up being its lone shot of the game. Ava Curtright took a free kick from distance that was punched away at the last minute by WWU goalkeeper Ellie McGowan to preserve the one-goal lead.

 

Mays, a freshman from Oak Harbor, then put the game away with a pair of goals over a 25-second span in the 86th and 87th minutes to secure the hat trick. She secured the brace at the 85:47 mark taking a short corner from freshman teammate Chloe Van Wey, juked several defenders and fired a shot from 22-yards out between three Yellowjackets into the top quadrant of the goal.

 

"I've had so many opportunities in the last few games and knew I needed to get one," Mays said in an interview with Cascadia Daily News. "When it rains, it pours. I hope to keep getting more as the season goes." 

 

Moments later Mays struck again at the 86:12 mark taking a through ball from senior midfielder Mie Cairns, one-timing her left-footed shot into the back of the net for the hat trick.

 

"It was a great moment for Maddy … and you could tell by the reaction of the team that everyone was feeling good," added Connell. "Not just because she is a freshman, but because she is a good player, and our team has been working towards finishing the chances they have created. It's a good boost for us and a good all-around performance by the team."

 

The Vikings (4-1-3, 2-0-1 GNAC) remains at home Saturday hosting No. 23 nationally ranked Seattle Pacific (5-2-0, 2-1-0 GNAC) in a 7 pm game at Harrington Field. The complete 2026 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/WSOC.

 

WWU extended its unbeaten streak in GNAC contests to 32 consecutive games, going 25-0-7 during this stretch dating to the end of the 2023 season … the Vikings defense and goalkeeper Ellie McGowan have posted five shutouts (not allowed mor than one goal in a game this season) … leads all-time series vs. MSUB 34-3-2 with a 26-game winning streak and 27-game unbeaten streak (since 2011) … Vikings are perfect 11-0-0 vs. Yellowjackets at Harrington Field … WWU drew 415 fans to increase its home average attendance to 374 fans per game.

 

Madeline Mays recorded the 37th instance in program history with a player scoring 3+ goals in a game … first since Morgan Manalili just over a year ago on September 18, 2025 in a 4-1 win over Cal State Monterey Bay … Mays is the 25th player in program history to score a hat trick in a game … only the third time a Viking has recorded a hat trick accounting for all the goals in a game, and the first since Christine Avakian in a 3-0 win at Humboldt State in 2000.

 

Western Washington 3, Montana State Billings 0

Date: September 24, 2026

Field: Harrington Field     Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 415

 

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

MSU Billings..................  0  0  -  0

Western Washington............  1  2  -  3

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.        25:11      WWU      Mays

2.        85:47      WWU      Mays

3.        86:12      WWU      Mays (Cairns)

 

Shots: WWU 19, MSUB 1

Shots on Goal: WWU 5, MSUB 1

Saves: WWU 1 (McGowan – 1), MSUB 2 (Leffler – 2)

Corners: WWU 10, MSUB 2

Fouls: MSUB 16, WWU 9

Offsides: MSUB 1, WWU 0

Kits: WWU (Light Blue), MSUB (Navy Blue)

Updated Records: WWU (4-1-3, 2-0-1), MSUB (1-2-4, 1-1-1)

 

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

 

 

Here is a look at the results and updated standings following Thursday's games to open the second week of conference games. The top four teams in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season advance to play in the 2026 GNAC Championships held November 5-7 at Interbay Stadium in Seattle. Updated conference standings, schedules, results and statistics can be found online at GNACsports.com.

 

 

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