BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Cruising to a Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory on Saturday night at Harrington Field, the Western Washington University men's soccer team topped Montana State University Billings 3-1 under the lights.
 
The Vikings led 1-0 at halftime, and used a pair of second-half goals to bolster their victory over the Yellowjackets, who dropped their third straight match. Valdemar Fogt scored MSUB's lone goal of the game in the 75th minute, curling a corner kick directly into the back of the net to bring it to a 2-1 score.
 
The Vikings held strong over the final 15 minutes however, improving to 5-7 on the year and 3-2 in conference play. MSUB meanwhile moved to 3-7-1 overall and is 1-4 in conference matches after the defeat.
 
Johan Espinoza got the scoring started in the 29th minute, redirecting a corner kick into the back of the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. WWU out-shot MSUB 8-3 in the opening 45 minutes, and cruised into halftime with the one-goal advantage.
 
WWU got its brace midway through the second half, when Alex Whiting knocked home a blocked shot in the 65th minute to double the home team's tally at 2-0 in what proved to be the game-winner.
 
WWU dealt with MSUB's comeback effort late in the match, and responded to the Yellowjackets' strike with the third and final goal. Gilbert De La Luz tucked home a strike inside the left post on a pass from Eric Bunnell in the 85th minute, squashing any hope for a comeback attempt by the 'Jackets.
 
WWU limited the GNAC's second-leading scorer – Halil Yilmaz – to just one shot in his 74 minutes played on Saturday. Oscar Salling and Fogt led the team with three shots apiece, and MSUB out-shot the Vikings 15-13 while placing seven attempts on frame.
 
Espinoza put all three of his attempts on target, and WWU goalkeeper Brandon Locke made the five saves required of him to collect the victory.
 
THE BUZZ: Fogt was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 11-21-2 all-time against the Vikings and is 6-14 in matches played in Bellingham.
 
NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets return home in two weeks, to face no. 7 Seattle Pacific on Oct. 30 before a rematch against the Vikings at Yellowjacket Field on Nov. 4.