By: Evan O'Kelly, GNAC Associate Commissioner for Communications 

Sometimes the most sound coaching can be deduced down to a single phrase. Based on how the Western Oregon men's soccer team has performed the last three weeks, they want to see nothing but more of the same.
 
It came down to the final match of the regular season, and in the biggest moment of the year the Wolves once again delivered.
 
Needing all six points from its final two matches in order to win yet another Great Northwest Athletic Conference trophy, the Wolves knocked off Simon Fraser 3-0 last Thursday before a title-clinching, 3-1 win over Western Washington on Saturday. The final result hoisted WOU one point ahead of Seattle Pacific in the final standings, as the Wolves finished their league slate 7-1-2 for 23 points. After collecting their third straight regular-season championship, WOU was named the Athletic Solutions GNAC Team of the Week on Monday.
 

"I am incredibly proud of this group," said first-year WOU head coach Andrew May. "It's hard to win in the GNAC but even harder to win three (titles) in-a-row, especially with the changes from year to year. Lots of credit goes to the previous staff that set the program up for success. This group showed lots of determination and grit to win the GNAC. Lots of guys stepped up into new roles and really embraced the challenge."
 
Now the Wolves, who went 11-3-5 overall during the regular season, are poised to defend last year's GNAC Championships tournament title as they earned a first-round bye and will play in the championship match on Saturday in Seattle. No GNAC side enters the postseason with more momentum, as the Wolves head to the playoffs winners of six consecutive matches and with an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 contests.
 
As it has done all season, the GNAC's second-leading offense relied on a variety of contributors in the tidy, clean sheet win over Simon Fraser. Marcus Vazquez opened the scoring in the eighth minute, defender Eli White added his second goal of the year in the 37th and Erick Chavez capped the offense with his third goal of 2026 in the 69th minute. Three different Wolves also had assists in the game, while GNAC Defensive Player of the Week Austin Valdez collected his sixth shutout of the year between the posts while facing a flurry of 27 shots by SFU. "The past couple games we have been starting off games really well," said May. "We knew going into Simon Fraser that needed to continue. The early goal helped with our confidence and belief. The guys really put in the effort."
 
Saturday's title-clinching win featured three more goal scorers, with Charlie Matsumoto finding the net in the 27th minute, Ignacio Brandan doubling the lead just after halftime and Davin Randall netting his first goal of the year in the 66th minute. "I think on the mental side of things, we knew what we needed to do," said May. "We had to win. Everybody channeled their emotions in a positive way, and you could see that strong belief through the course of the game. Guys stepped up and made plays."
 
Western Oregon has received a banner campaign from GNAC Freshman of the Year favorite Archie Dhima, who finished the regular season ranked fifth in NCAA Division II with 16 goals scored – two off the national leaders. Dhima has added four assists in his 18 matches played this fall, posting a GNAC-best 36 points to fuel the WOU attack. Brandan has followed with seven goals and three assists for 17 points, Vazquez has scored four goals and provided five assists and Jacob Solek has a team-high six assists to go along with three goals.
 

Valdez has played all but 15 minutes between the posts this season, playing a part in all seven of the team's shutouts and racking up a goals-against average of 1.17 and a save percentage of .792. "Austin has been amazing this year," May said. "Anytime the team has needed him to come up with a big save, he has made it. His save right at halftime against Simon Fraser was top and gave us the momentum into the second half. He is a leader on this team that keeps everybody accountable while getting the best out of them."
 

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From The Get-Go
Timeline of Western Oregon Men's Soccer's ascent to the top of the GNAC
July 13, 2021 – WOU announces the addition of men's soccer as a varsity sport.
August 26, 2022 – WOU defeats Hawaii Pacific 1-0 in its first-ever NCAA Division II men's soccer match.
November 3, 2022 – WOU loses to Seattle Pacific 1-0 in its final match of the year, finishing last in the GNAC with four points on a 1-10-1 league record.
November 11, 2023 – WOU defeats Seattle Pacific 2-1 in its final match of the year, finishing second in the GNAC standings – just 0.02 points shy of its first GNAC title.
November 9, 2024 – WOU defeats Seattle Pacific 3-1 to clinch its first-ever GNAC title and berth into the NCAA Championships.
November 21, 2024 – WOU upsets No. 6 Point Loma 2-0 for its first-ever NCAA tournament win.
November 23, 2024 – The historic season concludes with a 3-2 loss to No. 15 CSU Pueblo in the NCAA second round. WOU went 14-5-1 overall.
November 8, 2025 – WOU knocks off Western Washington 2-1 to salvage a tie for first place and a co-regular season title with Seattle Pacific – its second straight trophy campaign.
November 15, 2025 – In double-overtime, WOU topples Seattle Pacific 2-1 to win the first-ever GNAC Championships trophy and claim its second-straight NCAA regional berth.
November 21, 2025 – The Wolves fall to Hawaii Hilo 3-2 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, ending their campaign at 11-5-4 – their third straight 10-win season.
October 31, 2026 – WOU wins its sixth consecutive match, topping Western Washington 3-1 to secure its third conference title by a single point.
 

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For a team that did not yet exist as recently as 2021, four GNAC trophies in its first five years of existence is as good as the program could have possibly hoped to perform. The Wolves will now shift their focus to the conference tournament, where they will need a victory on Saturday to guarantee their spot in what would be their third consecutive

NCAA West Region Championships tournament. They will face the winner of Thursday's 7 p.m. (Pacific) semifinal between No. 3 seed Simon Fraser (7-5-5) and No. 2 seed Seattle Pacific (7-2-1).
 
It's a familiar position for WOU, who earned the top seed last season after sharing the regular-season title with the Falcons. Tournament MVP Michael Divano punched home a 102nd-minute golden goal to give WOU the 2-1, double-overtime win last November.
 
Now the 2026 edition of the Wolves gets set for its most important week of preparation yet. "As a coach, I have seen growth from this team throughout the season," May said. "We want to continue to get better and know the challenges that await us. We are focused on what we can control and look forward to competing in the GNAC Championships. Nothing changes." 
 
GNAC Team of the Week presented by Athletic Solutions
Athletic Solutions became a GNAC partner in 2025 and is the official sponsor of the GNAC Team of the Week award. Athletic Solutions is a national leader in NIL fan engagement and e-commerce technology, collaborating with colleges and universities to bring NIL Locker Rooms to life. Its platform simplifies NIL opportunities, providing student-athletes with the tools and exposure needed to thrive in the evolving landscape of college athletics.