By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Pierce Gallaway (Sr., M, Carmel, CA/Carmel HS) scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season at 58:02 and Willamette University maintained the lead to defeat Whitworth University, 1-0, in Northwest Conference action on Sunday, Oct. 16. Gallaway has scored in four consecutive games for the Bearcats, increasing his career total to 17 goals. He leads the NWC in goal scoring by one goal over three players tied with eight goals each.

The Bearcats, ranked #7 in NCAA Division III, upped their record to 10-1-2 on the season, 8-1-0 (24 points) in the NWC one day after suffering their first loss of the season against Whitman College. Willamette leads the NWC standings by three points.

Pacific Lutheran University holds second place in the NWC at 7-2-0 (21 points). Whitman is third with a 5-3-1 mark (16 points). Whitworth slipped to 6-6-2 overall, and is fourth in the NWC at 4-4-1 (13 points). Each win is worth three points and a tie is worth one point.

Gallaway's goal highlighted a tremendous second half for the Bearcats against the Pirates on Sunday. Willamette took 17 shots in the game's final 45 minutes, including nine shots on target. Gallaway hit the net on his second shot of the scoring sequence. After receiving a pass from the right side by Jett Starr (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS), Gallaway shot with his left foot from 8 yards out near the left post. The shot bounced off the post and back toward Gallaway, who headed it into the upper left corner of the goal from 5 yards out.

"We asked the group to respond to yesterday's result, and we did just that," Willamette Head Men's Soccer Coach Sam Adelman said. "I was proud of the team for lifting every aspect of their game and getting the result today. I'm happy to see our group be able to face adversity and conquer it!"

The strong second-half effort by Willamette also included the defense, as the Bearcats limited Whitworth to three shots during the half with only two shots on goal. Willamette goalkeeper Pierluca Carnovale (Jr., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) saved both of the shots that were on target and finished the game with four saves to earn the shutout.

Although Gallaway scored the game's only goal, other quality shots for Willamette in the second half were taken by Starr, Samuel Twenhafel (Jr., D, Anchorage, AK/South Anchorage HS), Max Brown (Sr., F, Morgan Hill, CA/Ann Sobrato HS), Andrew Reed (So., M, Portland, OR/Franklin HS), and Luke Varav (So., M, Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS). Sean Kim (Jr., F, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) barely missed on a couple of shots during the game, while Fernando Bitelli (So., F/M, Sao Paulo, Brazil) just missed on a strong shot in the first half.

While facing Willamette's offensive attack, Whitworth goalie Aiden Chase registered eight saves -- all in the second half. For the game, Willamette outshot the Pirates, 22-11, with a 9-4 margin in shots on goal. The Pirates held an 8-5 edge in shots at halftime, including a 2-0 lead in shots on goal. The Bearcats earned a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks during the contest, including 3-1 in the second half.