Last Updated on April 14, 2026 2:05 pm by ZUWP Automation
Morgan Manalili finished 4th nationally in total points, freshman Ellie McGowan posted the 11th-best goals-against average in all of D2, and Western Washington went 14-1-7 to claim the No. 2 seed in the West Region.
The 2025 Western Washington Vikings women’s soccer season was supposed to be a rebuilding year. After graduating key contributors from a 2024 squad that went 14-4-4 and reached the NCAA Tournament, the conventional wisdom said the Vikings would take a step back. Instead, they took a step forward, losing just once in 22 matches, climbing to No. 2 in the NCAA West Region, and producing one of the most decorated individual seasons in program history.
Western Washington finished 14-1-7 (.795), ranking 14th nationally among all 250 NCAA Division II women’s soccer programs in winning percentage. The Vikings scored 48 goals while conceding just 16, generated 134 total points (22nd nationally), and averaged 6.23 corner kicks per match, 16th in the country. Their scoring offense of 2.18 goals per game ranked 28th, while the defense posted a 0.708 goals-against average, good for 39th nationally.
In the West Region, only Cal Poly Pomona (14-1-3) finished ahead of them. The Vikings’ 13-1-5 in-region record placed them firmly as the second-best program on the West Coast, ahead of GNAC rival Simon Fraser (12-2-4) and conference foe Western Oregon (10-3-5).
Morgan Manalili: A Senior Season for the Ages
Senior midfielder Morgan Manalili delivered one of the finest individual seasons in the history of Western Washington soccer. Her 17 goals and 8 assists produced 42 total points, ranking her 4th in the entire nation in total points, behind only Elle Smith of Indiana (PA) with 47, Bree Ehmer of Catawba with 46, and Bella Campos of Colorado School of Mines with 44.
Manalili’s 2.1 points per game ranked 5th nationally. Her 0.85 goals per game placed her 8th in all of Division II. She also led the team with 6 game-winning goals, meaning Manalili was personally responsible for the decisive strike in more than 40 percent of Western Washington’s victories. She fired 3.35 shots per game with a .522 shot accuracy rate.
Within the GNAC, Manalili’s dominance was even more striking. Her 17 goals led all conference players by a wide margin. Simon Fraser’s Kiera Scott finished second in the conference with 13, while Seattle Pacific’s Kayla Wallace added 10. In total points, Manalili’s 42 dwarfed Scott’s 28 and Claire Potter’s 21. She was, simply, the best player in the conference and one of the best in the country.
The progression from her 2024 season was dramatic. After posting just 2 goals and 8 assists (12 points) in 23 matches last year, Manalili more than tripled her goal output and added six game-winners. Whether it was the freedom of a new role, a change in tactical approach, or simply the culmination of four years of development, her senior year explosion will go down as one of the most productive campaigns in program history.
| Stat | Value | NCAA D2 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Total Points | 42 | 4th |
| Points Per Game | 2.10 | 5th |
| Goals Per Game | 0.85 | 8th |
| Total Goals | 17 | T-4th |
| Game-Winning Goals | 6 | — |
| Shots Per Game | 3.35 | — |
| Shot Accuracy | .522 | 116th |
Ellie McGowan: The Freshman Phenomenon
If Manalili was the story of the season on the attacking end, freshman goalkeeper Ellie McGowan was the revelation at the back. In her first collegiate season, McGowan posted a 0.478 goals-against average, ranking 11th in the entire nation among all NCAA D2 goalkeepers.
To appreciate that number: only 10 goalkeepers in Division II posted a lower GAA. Colorado Mesa’s Keely Wieczorek led the country at 0.263, followed by Grand Valley State’s Macie Hunter at 0.374 and Minnesota State’s Lauren McAlpine at 0.381. McGowan, a true freshman, slotted in just behind CUI’s Riley Urquiza (0.424) and Westminster (UT)’s Marin MacKenzie (0.426).
McGowan logged 1,693 minutes across the season (40th nationally in goalkeeper minutes played), posted an .833 save percentage with 45 total saves, and recorded 8 shutouts. She was the best goalkeeper in the GNAC by a considerable margin. Simon Fraser’s Sarah Loewen, the next closest, finished with a 0.720 GAA, nearly 50 percent higher than McGowan’s mark.
For a freshman to step into the starting role and immediately perform at a top-15 national level speaks to both McGowan’s talent and the program’s ability to develop goalkeepers. Abigail Trengove, the senior who posted a 0.51 GAA with 10 shutouts in 2024, set a high bar. McGowan cleared it.
| Stat | Value | NCAA D2 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals-Against Average | 0.478 | 11th |
| Save Percentage | .833 | — |
| Total Saves | 45 | — |
| Shutouts | 8 | — |
| Minutes Played | 1,693 | 40th |
Claire Potter and the Supporting Cast
Senior forward Claire Potter provided the second scoring punch alongside Manalili, finishing with 8 goals and 5 assists for 21 total points, 0.95 points per game across 22 matches. Potter contributed three game-winning goals, giving the Vikings a lethal one-two punch at the top of the formation. Her 21 points tied Simon Fraser’s Kaiden Sherwood for the second-highest total in the GNAC.
Senior Emily Rice continued to be one of the most productive distributors in the conference, recording 9 assists (0.41 per game), the second-highest total in the GNAC behind only Sherwood’s 11. Rice’s ability to create from the back and through the midfield was a constant source of Viking attacks.
Junior defender Olivia Connell added 4 assists from her center back position, continuing to develop into one of the conference’s most complete defenders. Her ability to contribute offensively from the back line added an extra dimension that opposing teams struggled to account for.
GNAC Dominance
The 2025 season reinforced Western Washington’s status as the standard-bearer in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Vikings’ .795 winning percentage ranked 14th nationally. The next-best GNAC program was Simon Fraser at .750 (14-3-5), followed by Seattle Pacific at .575 (8-5-7). Central Washington finished at .412 (4-7-6), Northwest Nazarene at .333 (5-11-2), and Saint Martin’s at .222 (2-12-4).
That gap between Western Washington and the rest of the conference was especially pronounced in 2025. The Vikings outscored their GNAC rivals by wide margins, with Manalili alone accounting for more goals (17) than several entire conference rosters managed.
| Team | Record | Win Pct | NCAA D2 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Washington | 14-1-7 | .795 | 14th |
| Simon Fraser | 14-3-5 | .750 | — |
| Seattle Pacific | 8-5-7 | .575 | — |
| Central Washington | 4-7-6 | .412 | 157th |
| Northwest Nazarene | 5-11-2 | .333 | — |
| Saint Martin’s | 2-12-4 | .222 | 223rd |
Defensive Identity
The 2025 Vikings allowed just 16 goals in 22 matches, continuing a program tradition of defensive excellence. While the 0.708 team GAA was slightly higher than the 2024 squad’s 0.57 mark, the context matters: the Vikings lost just once, and the seven draws suggest a team that was competitive in every match but occasionally lacked the final-third finishing to convert close games into wins.
The defensive spine, anchored by McGowan in goal and Connell at center back, held firm throughout the season. The team’s shutout percentage of .455 (10 clean sheets in 22 matches) demonstrated the kind of defensive organization that has defined Viking soccer for the past decade.
West Region Standings
Western Washington entered the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the NCAA West Region, trailing only Cal Poly Pomona. The full West Region rankings reflected the Vikings’ dominant body of work:
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cal Poly Pomona | 14-1-3 |
| 2 | Western Washington | 13-1-5 |
| 3 | Simon Fraser | 12-2-4 |
| 4 | Azusa Pacific | 11-3-3 |
| 5 | Western Oregon | 10-3-5 |
| 6 | Point Loma | 8-3-5 |
| 7 | Stanislaus State | 11-4-4 |
| 8 | Concordia Irvine | 10-3-4 |
| 9 | Seattle Pacific | 8-4-7 |
Year-Over-Year: 2024 vs. 2025
Comparing the two most recent seasons reveals a team that improved offensively while maintaining its defensive foundation:
| Stat | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record | 14-4-4 | 14-1-7 | 3 fewer losses |
| Goals For | 38 | 48 | +10 (+26%) |
| Goals Against | 13 | 16 | +3 |
| Shutouts | 11 | 10 | -1 |
| Total Points | 122 | 134 | +12 |
| Win Percentage | .727 | .795 | +.068 |
| National Rank (Win Pct) | — | 14th | — |
| West Region Rank | — | 2nd | — |
The Vikings scored 10 more goals in 2025 than 2024, largely thanks to Manalili’s transformation from distributor (2G/8A in 2024) to elite scorer (17G/8A in 2025). The defense conceded three more goals, but that tradeoff resulted in three fewer losses.
Historical Context
Western Washington’s 2025 record of 14-1-7 stands out for one remarkable statistic: just one defeat in 22 matches. The .795 points percentage places this season among the top campaigns in program history, alongside the unbeaten 1983 squad (14-0-0), the legendary 2016 team (24-0-1), and the dominant 2017 side (18-2-0).
| Season | Record | GF | GA | GAA | Shutouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 24-0-1 | 66 | 10 | 0.40 | 17 |
| 2019 | 23-3-0 | 63 | 9 | 0.34 | 18 |
| 2015 | 21-2-1 | 58 | 14 | 0.58 | 14 |
| 2013 | 20-2-1 | 57 | 10 | 0.43 | 14 |
| 2017 | 18-2-0 | 55 | 8 | 0.40 | 14 |
| 2025 | 14-1-7 | 48 | 16 | 0.71 | 10 |
| 2024 | 14-4-4 | 38 | 13 | 0.57 | 11 |
The seven draws are the most in a single season in recent memory, suggesting the Vikings were rarely outplayed but sometimes struggled to break down packed defenses. That is the kind of challenge that comes with being the conference’s top program: every opponent raises their level against you.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 season will be remembered for Manalili’s extraordinary farewell, McGowan’s arrival, and a team that lost just once all year. But it also raises the bar for 2026. McGowan returns in goal with a full season of elite D2 experience. Connell returns at center back. The attacking group will need to replace Manalili’s 42 points and Potter’s 21, but programs with this kind of infrastructure and culture have a track record of reloading rather than rebuilding.
Western Washington has now posted a winning record in 13 of the last 14 seasons. The Vikings are not just the best program in the GNAC. They are one of the best in the West Region, and increasingly, one of the best in the country. The 2025 season proved it with numbers that ranked among the top programs in all of NCAA Division II.