By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Pierce Gallaway (Sr., M, Carmel, CA/Carmel HS) scored a hat trick for Willamette University to lead the Bearcats to a 4-2 victory over the University of California, Santa Cruz on Monday, Sept. 12 at Sparks Field. Willamette scored the first three goals of the game -- two by Gallaway -- in just over 21 minutes before the Banana Slugs pulled within 3-2 later in the half. WU kept UC Santa Cruz off the scoreboard in the second half, while Gallaway completed his hat trick with a goal at 85:06.

Willamette improved its record to 2-0-2 on the season. UC Santa Cruz slipped to 1-3-2.

Jett Starr (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) also scored a goal for the Bearcats, while Ardem Baronian (Sr., M/F, Los Altos, CA/St. Francis HS) earned two assists. Hadyn Duncan was credited with one assist. For UCSC, Paolo Santiago and Max Belder each scored a goal, with Belder also providing an assist. Tanner Boyea contributed two assists for the Banana Slugs.

Gallaway began the offensive barrage just 7:09 into the game on a 19-yard shot from the middle of the field into the lower right corner of the goal. Starr increased WU's lead to 2-0 when he scored from five yards at 18:07. The goal by Starr was set up by a cross from Baronian, followed by a header from Duncan.

The Bearcats extended the margin to 3-0 three minutes later at 21:07 on Gallaway's second goal. Gallaway shot from eight yards after Baronian took a free kick from the right side near the end line. Baronian sent the ball under the Banana Slugs' wall to Gallaway, who shot into the lower right portion of the net.

UC Santa Cruz quickly reduced the lead to 3-1 on Santiago's goal at 22:30 near the right post. The scoring play began with a corner kick from the right side by Boyea. Beldner then headed the ball from the left edge of the six-yard box toward Santiago, who headed the ball in from two yards out. Beldner added the second goal for UCSC at 33:00 on a 12-yard header. Boyea recorded an assist on the play when he took a free kick from 26 yards in the middle of the field.

Neither team scored later in the half and the Bearcats took a 3-2 lead into the intermission. Willamette owned a 9-5 edge in total shots at halftime, although each team had five shots on target.

Willamette registered a 7-3 advantage in shots during the second half, but was unable to add an insurance goal until Gallaway scored for the third time with 4:54 remaining. Gallaway created the goal from a 19-yard free kick near the right edge of the arc outside the penalty area. The shot was deflected by a defender and went into the goal a few feet inside the left post.

Gallaway has scored a team-high five goals this season to go with one assist. He also leads the Bearcats this year with 11 total points, 10 total shots, and seven shots on goal.

Against UC Santa Cruz, the Bearcats earned a 16-8 lead in total shots, while both teams were credited with seven shots on goal. WU goalkeeper Pierluca Carnovale (Jr., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) produced five saves for Willamette. Arman Salimi made three saves for the Banana Slugs.

Gallaway topped all players in Monday's game with six total shots and four shots on goal. Krisna LaFrance (So., F, Seattle, WA./Ballard HS) tacked on three shots for Willamette. The Bearcats achieved nine corner kicks, including seven in the first half, while UCSC finished with one corner kick.

Willamette will open Northwest Conference action on Saturday, Sept. 18 when the Bearcats host the University of Puget Sound at Sparks Field at 2:30 p.m. (PDT). WU will play at home again on Sunday, Sept. 19 against Pacific Lutheran University, also at 2:30 p.m.