Western Washington University Athletics

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's soccer team continued its hot start to the 2026 season defeating Westmont 2-0 on a pair of second-half goals to improve to 4-0-0 following Saturday night's non-conference game at Harrington Field.

For the first time in the 47-year history of the program at the varsity level, the Vikings have opened a season with four consecutive wins. WWU opened with three straight wins in 2018, 2000, 1991 and 1984, and recorded five-game unbeaten streaks beginning with a tie in 1997 and 1983 (both 4-0-1 marks). Western's hot start has resulted in four wins over West Region programs, including two top-five nationally ranked teams.

The up-tempo game between the Vikings (4-0-0) and Warriors (1-3-1) featured a back-and-forth affair with both teams recording six shots on goal and WWU holding a slight edge 18-16 in total shots.

The game was scoreless through the first 62 minutes when the Vikings found the breakthrough at the 62:43 mark. Junior midfielder Edwin Diaz weaved through traffic into the 18-yard box setting up the offensive series, with Lunden Fenter and Tommy Carroll setting up junior forward Ezrah Ochoa for slotted right-footed finish from 9-yards out.

Western's defense continued to hold off Westmont's attempt at an equalizer, with junior goalkeeper Quinn Sappington making two of his career-best six saves in the second half.

The Vikings added a late insurance goal in the with just under two minutes left in the game to extend the lead to 2-0, putting the game away. Sophomore midfielder Julian Herring took an initial shot from 12-yards that was saved by Westmont goalkeeper Aidan Strickler. Fenster corralled the loose ball near the endline and fed a pass back towards the middle of the box where Carroll buried his right-footed shot into the back of the net for his first career goal.

Through four games – all against West Region programs – the Vikings have out-scored their opponents 9-4 while scoring two-or-more goals in all four games. In addition to Sappington's big performance between the pipes, defenders Sam Hough, Jack Haegele and Ilya Mohov all played the full 90 in the first shutout performance of the season.
 

The Vikings (4-0-0) takes to the road for the first time in 2026 to start a stretch of six consecutive games away from Bellingham. WWU opens its extended travel slate next weekend in Denver, Colorado taking on Westminster (Thursday, 2:30 pm MT) and Regis (Sunday, 1:30 pm MT). The complete 2026 schedule can be viewed online via wwuvikings.com/MSOC.

Western Washington 2, Westmont 0

Date: September 5, 2026

Field: Harrington Field   Site: Bellingham, WA

Attendance: 319

Goals by period                 1  2    Tot

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

Westmont......................  0  0  -  0

Western Washington............  0  2  -  2

SCORING SUMMARY:

1.       62:43     WWU       Ochoa (Carroll, Fenster)

2.       88:02     WWU       Carroll (Fenster)

Shots: WWU 18, WC 16

Shots on Goal: WWU 6, WC 6

Saves: WWU 6 (Sappington - 6), WC 4 (Strickler - 4)

Corners: WWU 8, WC 8

Fouls: WC 11, WWU 9

Offsides: WC 2, WWU 1

Kits: WWU (White), WC (Crimson)

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

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: