Sept. 13, 2008

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University scored two quick goals in the first half and then hung on for a 2-1 victory over Warner Pacific College in a non-conference men's soccer contest Saturday night at Orca Field on the Whatcom CC campus.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak, all to NCAA Division II nationally ranked teams, for the Vikings, who improved to 2-3-0.

Warner Pacific, located in Portland, Ore., and affiliated nationally with the NAIA, had a four-game winning streak snapped as it dropped to 4-2.

"Warner Pacific was a spirited club," said Western coach Travis Connell. "It was a very competitive contest and I'm glad that we were able to come out on top."

The Vikings took a 2-0 lead, scoring twice within a span of 76 seconds early in the first half. In the 11th minute, Tyler Bjork (Fr., Kirkland/Juanita) headed in a cross from Oliver Wellman (Sr., Bellevue), who had gotten a thru ball from Matt Pete (Sr., Kennewick/Kamiakin). In the 12th minute, Samir Vejo (Sr., Trebinje, Bosnia) slammed in a shot from 12 yards with Pele and Chris Jepson (Jr., Bellingham/Sehome) being credited with assists.

Warner Pacific cut the deficit to 2-1 with a goal in the 26th minute. Davor Lukic scored on a rebound of a shot from 10 yards by Luis Galvan.

Western had a 19-12 advantage in shots and a 6-4 edge in corner kicks.

The Vikings next host Grand Canyon University on Wednesday (7 p.m.).

Western Washington vs. Warner Pacific
Date: 9/13/08   Attendance: 171
Goals by Period     1   2     Total
Warner Pacific      1   0 ---   1
Western Washington  2   0 ---   2
SCORING SUMMARY:
WWU - Bjork (Wellman, Pele), 10:35
WWU - Vejo (Pele, Jepson), 11:51
WPC - Lukic (Galvan), 25:08
Shots: Western Washington 19, Warner Pacific 12
Corner kicks: Western Washington 6, Warner Pacific 4
Fouls: Western Washington 24, Warner Pacific 12
Saves: Western Washington 5 (Copps-Tilley 5), Warner Pacific 8 (Latta 8)