BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Hawai’i Hilo forward Matt Wilkinson scored the lone goal of the match in the 63rd minute as the Vulcans claimed a 1-0 victory over the Western Washington University men’s soccer team on Tuesday night at Harrington Field.
The 24th-ranked Vikings, playing their regular season home opener, dropped to 3-2-0 with the loss while the Vulcans were playing their first game of the season to improve to 1-0-0.
WWU had the vast majority of the offensive opportunities with a dominating 29-3 advantage in shots, including a 6-3 edge in shots on goal, but it was the Vulcans finding the back of the net with their second shot of the contest at the 62:09 mark for the lone goal of the game.
“We dominated stat-wise, but give credit to Hilo,” head coach Greg Brisbon said. “They had a good game plan and executed on their chance they got and we failed to execute on the many chances we created. Soccer is funny that way but we have do a better job in the final third, in all aspects, if we’re going to win games this year.”
The goal came when Wilkinson received a cross from the left side at the 6-yard box and was able to turn after fire to the far post with a left-footed finish. Midfielder Alen Acosta assisted the goal with a low cross from near the end line.
The game was scoreless at halftime, with WWU holding a 12-0 advantage in shots (5-0 in shots on goal). The Vikings set a season-high mark for total shots in the game and the 6 shots on goal were tied for 2nd-most for WWU in a game this season
WWU freshman goalkeeper Brandon Wolter (Vancouver, WA/Union) made 2 saves for the Vikings.
Hawai’i Hilo goalkeeper Nick Williams recorded 5 saves, including a pair of diving saves, in the shutout effort. The defense was also credited with a team save in the game.
WWU closes out the non-conference schedule on Saturday, hosting Hawai’i Pacific at 7 pm. The GNAC schedule begins Sept. 20 at Saint Martin’s before WWU returns home to host Montana State Billings (Sept. 22, 7 pm).
