#24 WOU MEN'S SOCCER (6-1-1, 2-0)
GNAC STANDINGS | GNAC STATS | WOU STATS | WOU STAT RANKINGS
 
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
vs. Simon Fraser (1-4-2, 0-1), Noon
Monmouth, OR

SATURDAY
at Seattle Pacific (4-2-2, 1-0-1), 7 p.m.
Live Stream & Stat Links
 
THE WOLVES HEADING INTO THE WEEK
The 24th-ranked Western Oregon men's soccer team moved its unbeaten streak to seven last week as it opened GNAC play with a 1-0 win over Western Washington at home on Thursday behind a shutout from GNAC Defensive Player of the Week Andre Schlaefli and a goal from Yahir Ocampo Navarro. WOU followed it up by bouncing back from an early 1-0 deficit to beat MSU Billings 3-1 on Saturday.

Ocampo Navarro, a sophomore, is tied for the conference lead with five goals on the season while Michael Divano, a freshman is tied for third with four goals - but leads the GNAC and is tied for second in D-II with three game-winning goals. Ocamp Navarro is also second in the GNAC in points with 12.

THE OPPONENTS HEADING INTO THE WEEK
Simon Fraser isn't quite having the same season as a year ago as the Red Leafs enter the match 1-4-2 overall and 0-1 in GNAC play after losing at Montana State last Thursday. However, the record may be deceiving as they've played every game away from Canada thus far as Thursday marks SFU's eighth-straight away match to start the season. They also do have a solid result in picking up a draw against No. 9 Fort Lewis 1-1 on Sept. 19. Their one win came Sept. 7 against Stanislaus State.

Seattle Pacific started GNAC action with a win and a draw last week - beating Saint Martin's on the road 6-1 Thursday and picking up a 2-2 draw with Western Washington on Saturday. Like the Wolves, the Falcons have a nice unbeaten streak going at five (3-0-2). Their two losses this season came at home to No. 18 Chico State 2-1 and at home against Dominguez Hills 6-2. They also have ascoreless draw against No. 3 Cal State LA under their belt.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Simon Fraser
ALL-TIME: 0-3-1
STREAK: Loss 1
LAST WIN: N/A
LAST LOSS: Oct. 15, 2023 - 3-0 in Burnaby, B.C.
LAST DRAW: Sept. 28, 2023 - 2-2 in Monmouth
 
Seattle Pacific
ALL-TIME: 1-2-1
STREAK: Won 1
LAST WIN: Nov. 11, 2023 - 2-1 in Seattle
LAST LOSS: Nov. 3, 2022 - 1-0 in Monmouth
LAST DRAW: Nov. 4, 2023 - 3-3 in Monmouth 
 
NOTES
Wolves move up a spot to No. 24 in D-II poll
After being ranked for the first time in program history last week, the Wolves moved up a spot to No. 24 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25.

Schlaefli named GNAC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 7)
Western Oregon goalkeeper Andre Schlaefli was named the GNAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 7. Schlaefli allowed one goal and had seven saves while facing 20 shots in helping the 25th-ranked Wolves start GNAC play 2-0 and move their unbeaten streak to seven (6-0-1). Schlaefli - a 2022 All-American for St. Mary's (TX) - picked up his third shutout of the year in a 1-0 win over Western Washington at home Thursday, collecting three saves. The senior allowed just one goal and had four saves in the Wolves' 3-1 win at MSU Billings.

Divano named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 23)
Western Oregon's Michael Divano was named the GNAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 23 after a breakout week for the freshman. Divano scored three goals (on just five shots) in helping WOU go 2-0-1 on the week and move the Wolves' unbeaten streak to five. Divano scored the first goal of the game in a 2-0 win at home over Hawaii Hilo on Monday, Sept. 16, - a Vulcans team that is now nationally ranked. In WOU's 3-1 win over Newman on Sunday, Divano had his first collegiate multi-goal game - scoring two goals in the first 16 minutes of the match to propel WOU to victory.

Ocampo Navarro named GNAC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 16)
Western Oregon sophomore Yahir Ocampo Navarro was named the GNAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 16 after scoring two goals in helping the Wolves defeat Azusa Pacific on the road 3-2 on Sept 12. Both goals for Ocampo Navarro, an All-GNAC First Teamer and all-region player as a freshman last season, came via penalty kicks and in the second half - including the game-winner in the 73rd minute. It is Ocampo Navarro's first multi-goal game of his young collegiate career.

Taking care of business at home under Behonick
With a win over Western Washington last Thursday to open GNAC play in Monmouth, the Wolves are now 7-0-2 at home under second-year head coach Michael Behonick. WOU has outscored its opponents 17-7 in those nine matches. As of Wednesday (Oct. 9), it's been 706 days since the Wolves last lost a home match (Nov. 3, 2022).

Villalobos becomes first WOU player to score goal in all three seasons
WOU junior Abraham Villalobos made a little history with his goal against Jessup (CA) on Sept. 7 as he became the first player to score a goal in three different seasons for the three-year-old Wolves program. The Salem now has five career goals (fourth on the all-time list) and 14 career points (also fourth on the WOU all-time list).

Wolves picked second in GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll
The Western Oregon men's soccer team picked up a pair of first-place votes and was voted to finish second in the GNAC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll. The Wolves - entering year three as a program - snagged two of the five first-place votes and finished with 41 points - two points behind Simon Fraser (which collected the other five first-place votes). Seattle Pacific and Western Washington tied for third with 32 points followed by Northwest Nazarene (25), Montana State Billings (13) and Saint Martin's (10).

The Wolves went from a 2-13-2 team (1-10-1 in conference) in their first season in 2022 to 11-3-3 overall and 8-1-3 in GNAC play last season in head coach Michael Behonick's first season at the helm. WOU finished just short of a GNAC title as with games in the conference canceled due to inclement weather, the standings came down to points per match. WOU finished at 2.25 points per match with its 8-1-3 conference record, .02 points behind Simon Fraser's 2.27 with a 8-2-1 record.