By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Willamette University improved its season record to 7-0-2 on Saturday, Oct. 1, as Jake Oetinger (Fy., D, Gilroy, CA/Christopher HS) scored the game-winning goal at 79:30, sending the Bearcats past Whitworth University, 2-1, in a Northwest Conference men's soccer game at the Whitworth Soccer Field. The Bearcats trailed 1-0 after the Pirates scored at 16:16, but Willamette equalized at 27:26 on a goal by Jett Starr (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS).

The Bearcats also advanced to 5-0 in the NWC. Whitworth dropped to 4-4-2 overall and to 2-2-1 in the NWC.

Willamette's winning goal followed a corner kick from the right side. The ball deflected off the upper body of a defender four yards from the middle of the goal. After the deflection, the ball bounced once, and then Oetinger took a half-volley shot from 9 yards out. His shot from just left of the goal went into the right portion of the net. The Bearcats maintained the lead for the final 10:30 of the game.

Beckett Arthur gave Whitworth a 1-0 lead when he scored on the Pirates' first shot after Willamette took three shots. Starr shot at 5:10, sending the ball wide left. Sean Kim (Jr., F, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) earned a shot at 7:08 that was blocked, and Krisna LaFrance (So., F, Seattle, WA./Ballard HS) took a strong shot at 16:00 that was kept out of the goal with a team save by a Whitworth defender. Beckett scored 16 seconds later on a counter-attack.

Starr produced his goal about 11 minutes later on a shot from the top left corner of the 18-yard box into the upper right corner of the net. He was assisted on the play by Pierce Gallaway (Sr., M, Carmel, CA/Carmel HS). Starr leads the Bearcats with six goals this season.

At halftime, the teams were still tied 1-1, while Willamette held a 9-3 margin in total shots and a 3-1 lead in shots on goal. The Bearcats outshot the Pirates 10-5 in the second half to finish the contest with a 24-8 shooting advantage, including a slimmer 6-5 edge in shots on target. Gallaway and Kim each blasted five shots for the Bearcats. Each team took four corner kicks during the game.

WU goalkeeper Pierluca Carnovale (Jr., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) achieved four saves for Willamette. Whitworth goalie Andrew Wolotira was credited with three saves. Carnovale has accumulated 27 saves in Willamette's nine games, while contributing a 1.02 goals against average.

The Bearcats will take on Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, on Sunday, Oct. 2. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).