HOME EVENTS THIS WEEK

ON THE ROAD ...

NOTES FOR THIS WEEK...

• WOU split a pair of contests last week, defeating Western Washington 2-1 at home Thursday to move its unbeaten streak to six (5-0-1) before having its streak snapped Sunday at Simon Fraser, 3-0.
• It was only the second time WOU had been shut out this season.
• WOU leads the GNAC and is 17th in the nation in assists per game (2.18)
• Moises Cisneros and Yahir Ocampo lead the GNAC in assists with five
• Alejandro Velasco's six goals is tied for third in the conference while Gabriel Silva is tied for sixth with five goals
• Juan Suarez leads the conference and is 17th in D-II with 60 totals saves and he's second in the GNAC and 12th in the nation at 5.45 saves per game
• The Wolves won a wild contest against Northwest Nazarene earlier this season 4-3 in Nampa, Idaho. WOU took a 2-0 lead in the first half, NNU tied the contest at 2-2 in the first 15 minutes of the second, both teams scored within a 10-minute span to make it 3-3 before Alex Grignon scored for the Wolves in the 89th minute to secure the win. Silva finished with two goals and an assist in the contest.

• WOU enters the week coming off a 1-0-1 week last week in home games against Central Washington (2-1 win) and Saint Martin's (0-0 tie).
• The Wolves enter this week in first in the GNAC in shutout percentage at 50 percent (meaning they've posted a shutout in half their games this season).
• WOU's Chloe Smith ranks second in the conference in goals (5) and points (12)
• On Thursday, the Wolves look to gain ground on first-place Seattle Pacific as WOU sits with 14 points (4-2-2), good for third place, while the Falcons have 20 points (6-0-2) with Western Washington in second (17 points, 5-1-2). The teams tied 2-2 in Seattle earlier this season.
• On Saturday, the Wolves are looking to avenge a 2-1 loss to Montana State Billings on Oct. 5 in Billings. The Yellowjackets are last in the conference at 1-5-2 (five points) heading into the week.

FOOTBALL | Lone Star Standings

• The Wolves return to LSC play after falling in a non-conference contest at fourth-ranked Minnesota State 45-14 in Mankato. WOU was outgained 410-296 in the contest and were forced to punt on its first seven possessions (six were three-and-outs) as the MSU defense stood strong.
• The Wolves sit tied for fourth in the LSC at 2-2 with UT Permian Basin and Central Washington both undefeated in conference play and Angelo State at 3-1.
• WOU's opponent Midwestern State is 2-4 overall and 1-3 in LSC play after fall 10-7 at home to Central Washington last week. 
• Dominique Loggins is second in the LSC and 26th in the nation with 605 rushing yards. Austin Bacher also is in the top 10 in the conference at 422 rushing yards (ninth) as WOU is fourth in the conference and 34th in the country averaging 185.1 rushing yards per game.
• Jaylen Fite leads the LSC and ranks in the top 30 in the country in both kick return yardage (373 - 22nd in D-II) and yards per return (24.4 - 29th in D-II).
• The Wolves lost on the road at MSU last season 26-21 - making them 1-1 overall against the Mustangs (won at home 37-22 in 2019).

The Western Oregon cross country teams prepare to compete at the GNAC Cross Country Championships, hosted by Alaska Anchorage, on Saturday. The women's 6K race will start at 12 p.m. (PT) followed by the men's 8K at 1 p.m. The competition is held at Kincaid Park, a course consisting of hills that climb over 80 feet.

The Wolves' cross country teams aim to build on two fourth-place finishes at the 2022 GNAC Championships. This year, the Wolves have rosters featuring a mix of experienced runners and young talent. The women's team includes Caitlin Heldt, who finished third at last year's championships, and Riley Smith, who placed 13th. The men's team features Easton Pomrankey, who finished 28th at the GNAC Championships in 2022. The Wolves have four freshman on each team toeing the line, including Kanoa Blake, the winner of the Mike Johnson Classic, and Joelle Upshur, who finished 16th in the same event.

The championships feature several talented teams. In the women's field, four teams have earned spots in the top ten of the West Regional rankings, including Western Washington, a team ranked 15th nationally. On the men's side, two teams are ranked nationally, with Western Washington holding the 12th position and Alaska Anchorage securing the 20th spot.

• The Wolves enter the week looking to snap a four-match losing streak after dropping matches at Simon Fraser and Western Washington last week as they play at Saint Martin's this week.
• The Wolves lost to the Saints earlier this season in four sets in Monmouth.
• WOU last won in Lacey, Washington, against SMU in 2019.
• WOU and it's eight wins is already just a win away from last season's total of nine (9-17) - the most wins for the program since 2016.
• Madison Hornback leads the Wolves and is fourth in the GNAC at 3.15 kills per set.