Oct 15 2025 | Isaac Garcia | Sports Editor
It’s an exciting time in Monmouth after the Western women’s soccer team took care of business Oct. 4 against Northwest Nazarene, setting a new program record of six wins in a row. During this time, the Wolves have big wins against then #1 nationally ranked Colorado School of Mines and formerly #18 ranked Seattle Pacific respectively. Currently, the Wolves sit at #2 ranked in the GNAC and are looking to build on their momentum going forward. “Our team was really motivated by the fact that we didn’t perform as well as we’d like to and we knew last year we had a great defensive unit,” said head coach Kacey Bingham. “It was really strong, and we knew that was going to be returning and I think big improvements have come from our attack. We’re seeing multiple girls score and be threatening and I think that’s been a huge change from last year.”
Part of that change has been led by first-year forward Olivia Boger. Boger currently leads the team in goals scored, which speaks to her quick adjustment to a new level of competition and a high-quality team culture that allows new players to feel empowered to make immediate impacts. “It’s something that we actually talked a lot about last spring — the culture we wanted going into this year — and the girls spent a lot of time and energy creating a culture they wanted moving into this fall. I think part of that is making sure that we take care of the new players, and I think they made it a point to make the new players feel welcome and important and that they were going to be a big part of our success this year, so I think that stemmed from our captains,” said Coach Bingham. “And then Olivia came in really at a high level and I think she came in understanding, one, how to take care of the ball, how to dribble the ball and then she’s just clinical in the final third. She knows how to go one-v-one, she knows how to serve the ball, she knows how to finish and she’s just come in and stepped up to the challenge.”
One example of the Wolves’ many great leaders is senior team captain and defender Jada Foster. When asked how she’s improved as a leader since becoming a captain, Foster said, “I think the biggest thing for me has always been communication and just kind of stepping up. I know Kacey’s given me the opportunity to last fall and taking the winter and the spring to really just grow and just learn with my teammates and also just learn I’m going to make mistakes, but know that my team’s there for me, and I’m just going to push everybody, but also know that we’re family, and I love each and every one of them that works hard, and I know that we can do anything we put our minds to at the end of the day.”
Foster scored a penalty kick in the 45th minute against Central Washington University, a match that ended in a 3-0 victory. It included a score by Ally Beavers from a penalty kick in the 51st minute and an 86th-minute goal from Katya Tercek, assisted by both Beavers and Maya Courtenay. The win tied the then-record five-game winning streak, setting up the record-breaking win against Northwest Nazarene two days later.
As Coach Bingham mentioned, the defensive unit has also been strong, as they only allowed two goals through the duration of the streak. Senior goalkeeper Bella Lopez has recorded five clean sheets so far.
Bingham also mentioned the seniors on the team as a group that has stepped up big time in the 2025 season. “There was a lot of girls in this senior group that were trying to have bigger roles last year that have stepped into really big roles this year, and we’re really proud of that group and how hard that they’ve worked and the resilience that they’ve shown over their time at Western Oregon. They’re perfect examples of what it is to come to a program and give it all and to genuinely put your time and effort into improving as an individual, but also helping your team improve and I think that’s the culture we want to set here.”
Students may not even know they’re missing out on critical moments at Western with the team’s latest win streak — and, if they do know, are likely going to regret it. They play a fun style of soccer and radiate a contagious, positive energy that shines through to everyone in the stands. “I think it’s been a lot, but in a good way, because I think a lot of the girls that came in new didn’t expect it to be this way,” said Foster. “We’ve brought in this standard that there’s so much fun to college soccer, but also we just love to be here and play the sport we love. So I think that’s been like the biggest thing, especially freshmen coming in. I love how they’re just so new and just want to experience the fun things like that.” Their next home game will be against Simon Fraser Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. on the Turf Field. Something to know about the team for new fans this season, according to Foster, is, “We definitely bring that competitive energy. We’re never going to be the ones to just get hit and stay on the ground. We’re always very loud.”
“This team can make big plays,” said Bingham. “On offense and defense, they never back away from the challenge, and they turn difficult moments into looking easy sometimes. I think that’s fun, and it’s just an exciting group to watch. It’s a very competitive group. So no matter who’s on the field, they’re always going to bring something special.”
As of Oct. 14, the winning streak has come to a conclusion, but after the game against Simon Fraser, the Wolves will have five regular-season matches remaining, capping it off with a Senior Day celebration versus Montana State Billings Nov. 8. From there, they will look to qualify for the GNAC championships and put together a successful postseason run.
Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu
