“It’s an unbelievable feeling to beat the No. 11 ranked national team, it tells people we are here to play and we are ready,” stated head coach Erik Garcia . 

The Western Washington University women’s soccer team is no joke. According to the Bellingham Press Release, “the program has claimed 6 of the last 7 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) regular-season titles, going 80-5-5  in league play during this stretch, and has won three of the last four GNAC championship titles (2015, 2016, 2017).” 

That did not stop the Golden Eagles from putting up a fight though. Coming off their first loss of the season against Point Loma, they battled for ninety-seven minutes at home. 

A shot late in overtime by Cal State LA defender Valerie Mares almost ended the game. senior forward Anahie Duran, then, got the rebound off the goal post and fired a shot at the center of the goal, but it was saved by Viking goalkeeper Natalie Dierickx.

After battling off two defenders, Duran hustled back for more and fired another shot at the goal, this time to the lower right, and it was good.

The atmosphere of the crowd moved to the field as cheers of joy quickly filled the stadium. 

A feeling Duran described as “really good.”  She went on to say, “it brings a smile to all of our faces to come out here and play this game everyday.” 

Although Duran had the game winning goal, she credited her team, “it was not all me, it was a team effort.” 

Coach Garcia felt his players were much more consistent this time around, and executed the game plan better compared to their game against Point Loma.

The black and gold are looking to keep up this momentum when they return to action on Friday, Sept. 27 at home against Stanislaus State.