By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The University of Chicago, ranked #2 in NCAA Division III, broke open a scoreless game in the second half with goals at 48:09 and 67:21, then pulled away when #25-ranked Willamette University had to press forward, as the Maroons defeated the Bearcats, 4-1, in a second round game of the 2022 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship on Sunday, Nov. 13. Julian Rivas Delgado (Fy., F, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) scored Willamette's goal at 83:40.
Chicago improved to 18-0-1 on the season, including 11-0-0 at home on Stagg Field. The Maroons were ranked #2 in the final regular season poll released by the United Soccer Coaches. The Bearcats, who earned their first NCAA Tournament victory with a 3-1 win over the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Saturday, concluded their season at 14-3-3. Willamette won the Northwest Conference Championship with an 11-2-1 record (34 points).
"I'm devastated for this group that our season came to an end tonight. It feels too early," Willamette Head Men's Soccer Coach Sam Adelman said. "That's a quality side that we played tonight. Credit to them for breaking us down. I'm extremely proud of this group for the work and discipline they've put in throughout the year to get us this far. I'm more motivated than ever to make sure we make it back."
The first half featured plenty of possession as well as defense by both teams, with the Bearcats and the Maroons showing their respective strengths on both sides of the ball. Chicago gained a 6-5 advantage in total shots in the first half, but Willamette held a 1-0 lead in shots on goal. Pierce Gallaway (Sr., M, Carmel, CA/Carmel HS) of WU had the only shot on target during the half. He took the shot at 14:37, forcing Chicago goalie Will Boyes to make a save.
A free kick by Sean Kim (Jr., F, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) early in the second half provided the Bearcats with a chance to score. He took the restart from just wide of the 18-yard box and about 23-yards. The ball was redirected by Jake Oetinger (Fy., D, Gilroy, CA/Christopher HS) and deflected wide of the goal by Boyes at 45:53.
The Maroons moved in front 1-0 just over two minutes later when Naz Kabbani scored on assists by Griffin Wada and Jack Leuker. The play began with a restart from 10 yards out near the left sideline. The ball went several yards wide of the left post, where it was headed toward Kabbani, who was closer to the right post. Kabbani headed the ball from four yards into the net.
Willamette nearly scored to tie the game at 60:28 when Jett Starr (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) headed the ball just wide. The play was called offside.
Ryan Yetishefsky tallied the second goal for Chicago at 67:21. He shot from 13 yards on the right side, sending the ball toward the right post. WU goalkeeper Pierluca Carnovale (Jr., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) partially saved the well-struck shot but the ball deflected behind Carnovale and went into the left side of the goal.
Nabbani scored the Maroons' third and fourth goals, as he completed a hat-trick. He scored at 74:49 to give Chicago a 3-0 lead, then added the next goal at 81:32.
In between the two goals, Willamette just missed scoring when a line-drive free kick by Kim from 26 yards in the middle of the field was grabbed by Boyes just beneath the crossbar at 77:44.
Rivas Delgdo created his goal for Willamette and broke the shutout with 6:20 remaining in the game. Ardem Baronian (Sr., M/F, Los Altos, CA/St. Francis HS) shot from the left side and the ball was redirected near the left post by Boyes or a Chicago player. The ball then went directly to Delgado, who headed it into the net from 10 yards in the center of the field.
For the game, Chicago owned a 14-11 margin in total shots and a 6-5 edge in shots on goal. The Bearcats finished with a 2-0 advantage in corner kicks.