By: Burke De Boer Sports Editor
Wolves soccer hosted the top-ranked team in the nation on Thursday, Oct. 13. Or, rather, both were hosted by Central High School. Weather conditions forced the teams to moved to Independence where Western Oregon fell to Western Washington 0-2.
The Western Washington Vikings were a daunting foe coming into the game. A long series of home wins saw them climb the rankings. In their last four games, all played in Bellingham, they outscored opponents a combined 14-2. After beating Northwest Nazarene they leapt from being ranked fifth to first. The Wolves were their first match at number one.
The steady stormy downpour that came Thursday forced the match off the soccer field and onto the turf at Central.
The offense was kept at bay for much of the match. All chances on goal came in the second half. Trailing only 0-1 to the nation’s top team, the Wolves attack tried for the equalizer. Sophomore midfielder Sydney Thomas and junior forward Meli Cortez each put up two shots on the day. But the shots failed to find net and the Vikings ultimately put the game out of reach with a second goal in the 82nd minute.
Western Washington emerged still undefeated while expanding the Wolves’ losing streak to five games. They look to get back to winning ways in their final few games. One thing is for certain; after playing the best team in the nation – it’s all easier from here.
Catch them this Saturday, Oct. 22, at 11 a.m., when they host Simon Fraser for senior day.
Contact the author at journalsports@wou.edu
