Western Washington University Athletics

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team showed its resiliency scoring the equalizer with just over four minutes left in the game, but allowed a last-minute goal in a 3-2 loss Saturday morning against Western Oregon University in GNAC play.

 

The Vikings and Wolves battled through the 90-minute match combining for five goals, with WOU scoring at the 89:05 mark with 55 seconds left in the contest. WWU tied the game 2-2 at the 85:54 mark with sophomore Landon Schulze recording the brace.

 

Western Oregon improved to 4-2-4 overall and 1-0-1 through the first week of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Coming off a 1-0 road win at Saint Martin's on Thursday, the Vikings dropped to 6-3-1 overall and 1-1-0 in conference games. WWU completed a six-game stretch away from Bellingham going 2-3-1 after opening the season 4-0-0 rising to No. 14 in the national poll.

 

The Wolves struck first in the early part of the game with Marcus Vazquez scoring in the ninth minute off a long free kick trickled its way through the box and into the back of the net.

 

Western equalized with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half with Schulze and junior forward Ezrah Ochoa working a 1-2 combination inside the 18-yard box and Schulze slotting his right-footed shot inside the far post.

 

The Wolves forged ahead with an early second-half goal on a penalty kick by Vaszuez early in the 51st minute. Viking center back Sam Hough challenged a loose ball in the box and was called for the foul resulting in a PK for the Wolves. WWU goalkeeper Quinn Sappington correctly guessed leaping to his right, but Archie Dhima placed the ball just past him for the go-ahead goal.

 

The game remained a one-score contest through much of the second half prior to Schulze netting the equalizer in the 86th minute. With just over four minutes remaining, the sophomore got behind the WOU defense off an over-the-top pass from junior forward Rudy Silva, and beat the goalkeeper one-on-one with a low shot tucked inside the near post.

 

Seeking a point on the road against the defending conference champions, the Vikings allowed a late goal inside the final minute of play. The Wolves threaded a through ball from midfield that Dhima collected and took a shot just inside the 18-yard box eluding Sappington for the game-winning goal.

 

The Vikings held a decisive 26-13 advantage in total shots and put 16 shots on frame, with WOU goalkeeper Austin Valdez collecting 14 saves. 

 

"That's a tough loss. But it's on us as a program and me as a coach," said head coach Greg Brisbon. "Too many turnovers and mistakes in our half that hurt us. We played a very good 80 minutes of soccer today. The WOU goalkeeper was amazing at the right times for them. We are looking forward to getting back home and playing at Harrington Field."

 

The Vikings (6-3-1, 1-1-0 GNAC) is back at Harrington Field next week for a pair of conference games, hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday (7 pm) and rival Seattle Pacific on Saturday (4 pm). Saturday's match vs. the nationally ranked Falcons will be the annual Latine Heritage Month Celebration as well as the Sideline Party. All conference games will stream live on the GNAC Network. The complete 2026 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/MSOC.

 

Western Oregon 3, Western Washington 2

Date: September 26, 2026

Field: WOU Soccer Field    Site: Monmouth, OR

Attendance: 100

 

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

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

Western Oregon................  1  2  -  3

 

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.         8:15     WOU       Vazquez

2.        38:31     WWU       Schulze (Ochoa)

3.        50:02     WOU       Dhima (PK)

4.        85:54     WWU       Schulze (Silva)

5.        89:05     WOU       Dhima

 

Shots: WWU 26, WOU 13

Shots on Goal: WWU 16, WOU 5

Saves: WWU 2 (Sappington - 2), WOU 14 (Valdez – 14)

Corners: WWU 8, WOU 2

Fouls: WOU 13, WWU 7

Offsides: WWU 2, WOU 2

Kits: WWU (Black), WOU (White)

Updated Records: WWU (6-3-1, 1-1-0), WOU (4-2-4, 1-0-1)

 

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: