By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Whitman College scored a goal on a counter-attack just over eight minutes into the first half, went up 2-0 on an own goal early in the second half, and the Blues went on to defeat #7-ranked Willamette University, 3-1, in a Northwest Conference men's soccer game on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Sparks Field. The Blues added a third goal on a corner kick, before Pierce Gallaway (Sr., M, Carmel, CA/Carmel HS) scored for the Bearcats on a penalty kick at 59:20. Neither team scored in the final 30 minutes.

After taking the lead, the Blues were able to pack things in on defense and counter-attack when possible. Willamette earned a sizable edge in time of possession with 58% compared to 42% for the Blues, but the Bearcats were unable to complete a comeback.

Whitman improved its record to 7-6-1 overall, 4-3-1 (13 points) in the NWC. Willamette, which lost for the first time this season, fell to 9-1-2 overall, 7-1-0 (21 points) in the NWC. The Bearcats sit at the top of the NWC standings by three points over Pacific Lutheran University, which holds second place at 6-2-0 (18 points). Whitman and Whitworth University are tied for third place. The Bearcats will take on Whitworth at Sparks Field on Sunday (Oct. 16) with kickoff slated for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).

Zachary Stonier scored the first goal for Whitman on Saturday at 8:08. He shot from 14 yards at the left into the lower right corner of the goal. Noa Taylor, who set up the play with a pass from the midfield, was credited with an assist. The score remained 1-0 at halftime with Willamette owning a 4-3 margin in total shots, while both teams had two shots on goal.

Just over two-minutes into the second half, the Blues grabbed a 2-0 lead when a ball was played from the right side into the 6-yard box and it deflected off a Willamette defender and into the net. A bit later, Taylor scored at the end of a corner kick to increase Whitman's goal to 3-0 at the 53:17 mark. The play began with a low corner kick taken by Christian Gomez. McCoy Hennes tipped the ball with a slight touch toward Taylor, who shot from 5 yards into the lower left part of the net.

At 59:20, Willamette reduced the lead to 3-1. Sean Kim (Jr., F, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) was fouled by a Whitman defender near the left top edge of the 18-yard box and a penalty kick was awarded. Gallaway took the penalty kick and sent the ball into the net. The Bearcats battled to get within a single goal and perhaps complete the comeback, but Whitman's defense prevented any goals.

Even so, the Bearcats took five shots in the final 22 minutes. Whitman goalkeeper Bernie Jones recorded saves against Dylan Ray (Fy., D, Torrance, CA/West HS) at 69:07 and Luke Varav (So., M, Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) at 79:12, the Blues blocked shots by Edwin Ortiz (Sr., F, Salem, OR/North Salem HS) at 68:23 and Gallaway at 70:59, and a shot by Gallaway went barely wide left at 83:52.

Willamette's pressure led to the Bearcats earning an 8-4 margin in corner kicks during the second half for an 11-6 advantage overall. Jones finished with five saves for Whitman, while Pierluca Carnovale (Jr., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) registered four saves for Willamette.