By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Maxwell McKee (So., F, Coronado, CA/Coronado HS) and Christopher Barnes (Sr., M, Los Altos, CA/Mountain View HS) scored goals just 2:28 apart in the second half, leading Willamette University to a 2-0 victory over Warner Pacific University in the season opener for both teams on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Sparks Field.
It was the season opener for both teams. Willamette ended the night at 1-0, while Warner Pacific slipped to 0-1.
McKee broke a scoreless tie by scoring at 71:21 on a follow shot after a free kick. The initial crossing pass led to a shot by Julian Hanlon-Austin (Sr., F, Portland, OR/Grant HS) that was blocked by a defender. After the ball bounced off other players in the penalty area, it fell to McKee, who took a 13-yard shot into the lower left corner of the goal. It was McKee's first career goal for the Bearcats.
Barnes scored at 73:49, as he put in a header on a corner kick taken by Alan Hernandez (Jr., M, Tigard, OR/Tigard HS). Barnes headed the ball from just inside the 6-yard box, placing his shot toward the lower right part of the net.
Willamette held a sizable advantage in the statistics, outshooting the Knights 16-7 overall and 8-0 in shots on goal. WU also achieved a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.
The Bearcats outshot WPC 7-1 in the first half, inlcuding 5-0 in shots on goal. The Knights' goalkeeper, Erdal Barkay, kept them in the game with five first-half saves.
Despite Willamette's statistical edge, Warner Pacific almost took a 1-0 lead when Coy Woods blasted a shot that hit the cross bar, then bounced down and out without crossing the goal line at 62:03.
WU goalkeeper Josh Fuentes recorded the shutout without making a save. A total of 19 Bearcats saw action. Fuentes, Barnes and Brendan McGonigle (Fr., D, Seattle, WA/O'Dea HS) played all 90 minutes.
The game featured 38 total fouls, with 21 on Willamette and 17 on Warner Pacific. There were four yellow cards on the Bearcats and four cards on the Knights, including two on Bailey Thomason. The Knights played the final 11:31 with 10 men after Thomas was sent off for his second yellow.
Willamette now has just over a week between games. The Bearcats will return to Sparks Field on Friday, Sept. 9 to take on University of California, Santa Cruz a 7:30 p.m. (PDT).
