By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University goalkeeper Braydon Calder (Sr., Philomath, OR/Philomath HS) registered eight saves, and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh goakie Sam Gabrilska earned seven saves, as the Bearcats and the Titans battled to a 0-0 tie in two overtimes at Sparks Field on Sunday, Sept. 6. Each team ended the day with a 1-1-1 overall record.
The game featured two teams with successful seasons in 2014. Willamette finished last year with a 13-5-2 overall record and took second place in the Northwest Conference at 10-2-2, just one point out of first place. UW-Oshkosh went 14-5-2 and won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament title.
Each team had one high-quality scoring chance in the first overtime, with the Bearcats nearly scoring in the first minute.
Shortly after the kickoff, Jesse Thompson (Sr., F, Santa Ynez, CA/Santa Ynez HS) received the ball near the top of the attacking penalty area and shot past Gabrilska toward the right post. The ball missed the goal by about 1 1/2 feet just 18 seconds into the extra session.
Several minutes later, Michael Dugan of UW-Oshkosh had a similar opportunity from the right side that he sent low and toward the far post. It went about 2 1/2 feet wide of the goal. Calder dived on the play and appeared to have the shot covered had it been on goal.
The Titans also had a great chance in the second overtime when Malcom Jeffis took a shot from eight yards out near the right edge of the penalty area. His blast was pushed over the crossbar by Calder at 105:03.
UW-Oshkosh did not get a shot on the ensuing corner kick, but Calder made a save on a shot by Nick Woodbury 15 seconds later.
In the first half, the Titans claimed a 7-3 advantage in shots. Three of the shots were achieved during a 28-second span between 34:45 and 35:13.
The first of the three shots was taken by Dugan after the ball came back into the box following a WU clearance of a corner kick. Dugan's shot was blocked by the defense. Jacob Hernandez received the rebound and blasted a shot that forced Calder to make a diving save.
After another corner kick at 34:55 the ball eventually popped out to Hernandez. His shot was kicked off the goal line by a defender Liam Main.
Willamette counter-attacked following the shot by Hernandez. Just 15 seconds later at 35:28, Thompson shot and hit the crossbar.
In the second half, Gabrilska recorded five saves and Calder stopped four shots. One of Calder's saves was late in regulation on a shot by Dugan at 87:40. Calder knocked the ball over the crossbar.
For the game, UW-Oshkosh outshot the Bearcats 24-11 in total shots, including a 10-6 edge in shots on goal. Dugan took five shots for the Titans, while Thompson earned six shots for WU.
Willamette will continue its season-opening, seven-game homestand on Friday, Sept. 11 against the University of California, Santa Cruz at 7 p.m. (PDT). One day later, the Bearcats will take on Evergreen State College on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
