The spring season has officially come to an end for the Western Washington University women’s soccer team. Their last game against the Peninsula College Pirates on Sunday, May 17, 2026, resulted in a tied 0-0 score.
This game signifies the final spring game of the year. While both teams played strong defensive and offensive games, the final score came down to excellent defense on both sides and constant stops by both goalkeepers.
PC goalkeeper Alexandra Naill, a graduating player, was happy to have been able to prepare their upcoming goalkeeper Aspen Fraser. She sees the position as being the foundation of the team.
“If you have a good goalkeeper, you can be so much more experimental,” Naill said.
Travis Connell, head coach of Western’s women’s soccer team said he was proud of the team’s ability to stay on top of defense throughout the game.
“We’ve been working at being tough to beat (defensively) this spring,” Connell said.
The second half stayed almost strictly on PC’s side with Western’s forwards constantly pushing the ball forward. Despite a strong attack from Western’s offense, Naill was able to fend off each and every shot.
Toward the end of the game, there was a flurry of switched possessions and sprints up and down the field. Western midfielder Mie Cairns felt the effects of constant switching possession.
“The last 10 minutes of the game are always brutal – it's like transition, we're just defending back and forth,” Cairns said.
Overall, the game rested on competitive defense, with neither side giving up any goals. Both teams are hopeful going into the next season with the chemistry and skills they have built up as a group.
“Everyone gets to play, you can build those (team) connections now and hopefully they transition into the fall,” Cairns said.
Violet Mills (she/her) is a sports and recreation reporter for The Front. She is in her second year at Western and is a double major in journalism public relations and communication studies. When she isn't hunting down the latest news, she is usually working out at the rec center or spending time outdoors with her friends. You can reach her at violetmills.thefront@gmail.com.
