By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Pierluca Carnovale (So., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) of Willamette University has been chosen as the NWC Men's Soccer Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week for games played from Sept. 6 through Sept. 12. Pierluca helped the Bearcats defeat Occidental College (Calif.), 2-1, in a neutral-site game in San Antonio, Texas, on Monday, Sept. 6.

In the win over Occidental, Carnovale earned six saves while playing all 90 minutes in goal. His efforts helped Willamette rally from a 1-0 deficit to earn the win.

Carnovale kept Occidental off the scoreboard for the final 65:20 after the Tigers scored 24:40 into the contest. Max Berner-Hays (Sr., D, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) tied the game for Willamette with a score at 72:58, and Mack van der Velde (Sr., D, Voorhout, Neth./Summit HS, Bend, OR) completed the rally with a goal at 81:16.

The Bearcats are 2-1 on the season. They will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 18 with a game at Northwest Conference rival Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT). Willamette will complete the road trip against another NWC opponent, Whitman College, in Walla Walla, Washington, on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 2:30 p.m.