By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Three goals in the first half gave Willamette University a big lead against Northwest Conference rival Pacific University on Saturday, Sept. 28, and set the stage for the Bearcats to win 4-0 at Hanson Stadium. Mack van der Velde (Jr., D, Voorhout, Neth./Summit HS, Bend, OR), Ryan Sato (So., MF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS), and Omar Dominguez Pascasio (Jr., D, Madras, OR/Madras HS) each scored in the first half, while Patrick Charlton (Sr., F, Port Towsend, WA/Port Towsend HS) tacked on a goal just over nine minutes into the second half.
The Bearcats outshot the Boxers 13-4 overall and 11-2 in shots on goal. Meanwhile, WU goalkeeper Mason Kelliher (Sr., GK, Wellington, N.Z./Wellington College) played all 90 minutes and recorded two saves on his way to earning the shutout. Willamette upped its mark to 5-1-2 overall, 2-1 in the NWC. Pacific dropped to 1-6-1 on the season, 0-3 in the NWC.
"We were able to create a good rhythm today on the ball and that gave us great opportunities to score, and we capitalized. We are happy with the result."
— Willamette Head Coach Jared Rust
Sato led the attack with a goal and an assist. He earned the assist on van der Velde's goal just 5:10 into the game on a corner kick. Sato doubled Willamette's lead to 2-0 when he scored ito the upper left corner of the goal at 34:39. Dominguez Pascasio completed the first-half onslaught with a goal at 43:36 after gaining control on a pass from Charlton during a scramble in front of the net.
Charlton completed the scoring at 54:25 on another battle near the goal. Yushiro Shiomi (So., D, Kyoto, Japan/TIUA) received an assist on the play by passing to Charlton, who scored into the lower left corner of the net.
Sato finished with four total shots and three shots on target. He has scored four goals this season to rank second on the team, and is tied with Nicholas Ballenger (Sr., F, Salem, OR/West Salem HS/Oregon State Univ.) for first in overall scoring with 11 points.
Kelliher improved to 4-1-2 with the complete-game shutout. Pacific split the goalkeeping time between two Boxers, as Jack Cuevas started and played 54:25 and Jack Orum competed for 35:35. Cuevas was credited with four saves, while Orum attained three saves.
Willamette will host George Fox University at Sparks Field on Sunday, Sept. 29. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).