ROHNERT PARK, CALIF. - On Thursday, August 31st, the Sonoma State men's soccer team kicked off their 2023 campaign in a home contest against GNAC rival Western Washington. Both teams have faced off in the preseason each of the last seven years providing some great battles including three overtime contests. Today, the Seawolves would score first with a well worked goal from
Patrick Neill in the 65th minute. However, no more than two minutes later the Vikings would get one back on a swinging cross from the left side to even out the score. Both team's regular season opener would finish in a 1-1 tie.
FIRST HALF SSU 0-0 WWU
The Seawolves would come out with the upper hand, dominating the initial spell of possession and putting the Vikings under early pressure.
Jvon Cunningham and
Johnnie Dodge would combine well up the left side to create some quality chances in the box. Cunningham and
Sean Rohane would tally shots in the first half for SSU.
The Vikings would tighten up though and cause some problems for the Seawolves in the final 15 minutes. In the 32nd minute, Western Washington would catch SSU on the counter and find themselves with an open chance on net. SSU keeper
Reinier ter Riet would gamble and come out to make a clearance but the Vikings forward would tap the ball around him and find himself with a chance on an open net. Defenders
Lucas English and
Ian Reis would chase down the forward and apply some pressure but the shot on goal would rattle off the left post to keep the game scoreless. Both teams would finish with four shots in the first 45 minutes.
SECOND HALF SSU 1-1 WWU
As the game started to open up, the Seawolves continued to put together quality chances with tight combination play around the box. After building up from the left side, the ball would come wide to sophomore defender
Elliot Stanley. Stanley would pick out a beautiful target pass to senior forward
Oliver Ziemer who would put a one-touch pass into the box for a cutting
Patrick Neill. Neill would collect the ball, slide around the keeper and calmly fire it into the back of the net to give SSU the 1-0 lead.
The lead would be short lived though as Western Washington took advantage of a turnover in Seawolf territory that led to a back post cross from the left side for a tap-in finish. The Vikings would strike just two minutes later to tie things up in the 67th minute.
The final 20 minutes of the game would be a wild one as both teams had quality chances to take the lead. For the Seawolves, freshman midfielder
Alejandro Zarate would come off the bench and make a nice impact offensively. Zarate would rattle a shot off the crossbar in the 71st minute and Western Washington would put together four dangerous attempts in the final ten minutes. Both teams would go on to settle for the 1-1 draw in their season opener and combine for 21 shots.
"A very entertaining game and the draw felt well deserved for us" said SSU head coach
Marcus Ziemer. "We have had great games with Western Washington over the years, they are a very solid team. The game could've gone either way with chances off the frame for both teams. We got great production from our bench today and will look to grab a win against Seattle on Saturday" (Ziemer).
LOOKING AHEAD:
Sonoma State starts the season 0-0-1 after their draw with Western Washington. They will finish their opening weekend against Seattle Pacific on Saturday, September 2nd at 1:00 PM. Live stats and ticket links can be found at sonomaseawolves.com and the game can also be streamed live on the CCAA Network.
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