By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University men's soccer team will open the 2016 regular season on Thursday, Sept. 1 with a home game against Warner Pacific College at Sparks Field. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. (PDT). The game is the first of 17 regular season match-ups for the Bearcats, who look to repeat the form that led them to winning records in 2012 (10-7-2), 2013 (10-6-3) and 2014 (13-5-2).
In 2015, Willamette finished the year with a 6-11-2 record, including 5-8-1 in the Northwest Conference (4th place tie). The Bearcats also tied for fourth place in this year's NWC Men's Soccer Preseason Poll in voting by the league's head coaches.
Head Coach Lloyd Fobi, now in his sixth year leading the Bearcats, has seven seniors who will provide leadership. The team also has a solid group of juniors and sophomores, plus a list of talented newcomers.
The top returning scorer for Willamette is Alan Hernandez (Jr., M, Tigard, OR/Tigard HS), who tied for the team scoring lead last season with three goals and two assists for eight total ponts. Hernandez took 22 shots, including 10 shots on goal. Christopher Barnes (Sr., M, Los Altos, CA/Mountain View HS) tallied three goals and one assist for seven points last fall.
Josh Fuentes (GK, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) begins his senior season as the team's starting goalkeeper after contributing in a back-up roll behind Braydon Calder ('16) the past three seasons. Fuentes played in six games with two starts last year. He recorded one solo shutout and combined with Calder for one shutout, while earning a 1.98 goals against average.
On defense, Jack Elton (Sr., D, Corte Madera, CA/Redwood HS) and Liam Main (Jr., D, San Francisco, CA/Marin Academy) return for the Bearcats. Julian Hanlon-Austin (F, Portland, OR/Grant HS) enters his senior season as a forward, while Noah Walin (Sr., M, Paia, HI/Seabury Hall) returs in the midfield.
Maxwell McKee (So., F, Coronado, CA/Coronado HS) who showed the ability to create his own shot and create difficulties for opposing defensses, is capable of making a big impact for the Bearcats. Diego Ochoa (So., F, Coronado, CA/Coronado HS) also played well as a freshman last year.
A newcomer with quality offensive skills is Quinn Mello-Bastida (Jr., M, San Jose, CA/Valley Christian HS/U. of Portland). Melllo-Bastida transferred to Willamette from the University of Portland. He should work well with the Bearccats' other attacking players.
