REDDING, CALIF. -- Willamette University received goals from five players, as the Bearcats rolled past Simpson University, 5-1, in a non-conference men's soccer game on Saturday, Sept. 5. Loftin Langsdorf scored at the 6:39 mark and Eric Kaufman hit the net at 14:03, as WU built a 2-0 margin in the first 15 minutes.
Casey Dineen (Sr., MF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) added a goal with two minutes left in the first half to give Willamette a 3-0 lead. Simpson cut the advantage to 3-1 with a goal by Nataniel Butterfield just 2:06 into the second half.
Willamette pulled way with goals by Luke Lagattuta (Sr., MF/D, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) at 55:44 and Ross Vartain (Jr., F, Palo Alto, CA/Mid-Peninsula HS) at 65:51. The Bearcats improved to 1-1 on the season. Simpson fell to 0-2.
The five-goal output was the most for the Bearcats since a 5-3 victory over Western Baptist College (now Corban College) on Sept. 12, 2002.
Willamette outshot Simpson, 18-13, including 9-7 in shots on goal. Dineen led all players with four shots. Alec Berg topped Simpson with three shots and earned an assist on the Red Hawks' only goal.
Lagattuta concluded the game with a goal and assist for the Bearcats. He recorded his assist on the goal by Dineen. Tom Farr (So., MF, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) was credited with an assist on Kaufman's goal.
Goalkeepers Eben Hellekson (Jr., Honolulu, HI/University Laboratory School) and Alfredo Zuniga (So., Salem, OR/South Salem HS) split time in the nets for Willamette. Hellekson made two saves and did not allow a goal. Zuniga registered four saves and was in goal when Simpson scored. The Bearcats earned a 7-4 advantage on corner kicks.
Matt Deacon was the starting goalkeeper for Simpson. He allowed three goals and had three saves. Blake Martz played the final 45 minutes and gave up two goals, while making one save.
Willamette will play at the Oregon Institute of Technology on Sunday, Sept. 6. Game time in Klamath Falls, Ore., is set for 1 p.m. (PDT).
BOX SCORE
Willamette University 5Simpson University 1
Eric Kaufman was one of five Willamette players who scored goals against Simpson.
Luke Lagattuta scored a goal and earned an assist against the Red Hawks.
