BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men’s soccer team scored three goals over a six-minute stretch late in the first half and early in the second half to fuel a 5-1 victory over rival Seattle Pacific University on a rainy Saturday evening in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action at Harrington Field.
With their third consecutive victory, the Vikings gained sole possession of second place in the conference standings with a 5-4-1 record in GNAC play (16 points). WWU improved to 9-6-1 overall with its third win over the Falcons in the last four meetings, avenging a 4-2 loss earlier this season in Seattle. SPU dropped to 8-10-0 overall and 4-7-0 in GNAC play with its fourth consecutive loss.
“That was a fun game to coach and be a part of. It is always fun playing SPU and I thought it was just a great game,” said WWU head coach Greg Brisbon. “Our third goal that we scored was a crucial time to score to swing the momentum back in our favor. And then the beginning of the second half was key, with the early goal and the great energy. I was really proud of the team tonight…they did a great job.”
Western jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the 13th minute when junior forward Christian Rotter (Auburn, WA/Auburn Mountainview) found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season, and third in the last two games. Sophomore midfielder Drew Farnsworth (Auckland, NZ) fired an initial shot from the top of the box, that caromed off both posts, before Rotter followed up from 5-yards out for the go-ahead goal.
SPU tied the game with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half, with sophomore Nik Reierson connecting on a hard and low drive from 22-yards at the 34-minute mark in the game. The Vikings tried to clear the ball from their half, but Reierson collected a loose ball, and after a few touches, fired the ball goalward beating the WWU goalkeeper to the far post.
WWU went right back in front in the 41st minute, when junior Taylor Allen (Russellville, AR) collected a loose ball in the box after a mad scramble, and connected from close range for his third goal of the season.
With 36-seconds remaining in the half, and immediately following a red card given to SPU senior defender Chris Cole, the Vikings extended their lead to 3-1 on a header goal by senior defender Louis Genty (Toulouse, France). Sophomore midfielder Georg Cholewa (Leipzig, Germany) fired a free kick from 28-yards-out, where Genty connected on the diving header from 6-yards out.
The Vikings extended their lead with a quick-strike goal just over a minute into the second half. Rotter made a 50-yard run down the right flank starting on WWU’s second third, weaving through the Falcon defense before his touch-pass found Cholewa, who finished from close quarters at the 46:09 mark for his team-leading eighth goal of the season.
WWU put the exclamation point on the victory when senior Ryan Schaefer (Burien, WA/Kennedy Catholic/Univ. of Denver) scored in the 88th minute to bring the game to the final score of 5-1. After a crossing corner from senior forward Drew Barker (Tacoma, WA/Bellarmine Prep), Schaefer capitalized on a missed clearance opportunity by SPU, drilling it home from 6-yards out for his fourth goal of the season. Schaefer’s goal at the 87:21 mark set a WWU record for most goals scored in a game against the Falcons, bettering a 4-0 victory in 2009.
The Vikings dominated the stat sheet out-shooting the Falcons 28-9, including a 15-3 advantage in shots on goal.
“I am excited about how we are playing near the end of the season and looking forward to seeing we perform on Thursday. It’s going to be a big game as it always is playing Simon Fraser. We are going to give them all we have and hope to send the seniors off in a good way,” added Brisbon.
UP NEXT
The Vikings (9-6-1, 5-4-1) close out the 2018 regular season next week, hosting No. 1 nationally-ranked Simon Fraser on Thursday night (7 pm) for Senior Night at Harrington Field, and then travel to Portland to face Concordia on Saturday at Tuominen Yard at 7 pm.
