By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Willamette University earned a 21-5 advantage in total shots during their Northwest Conference men's soccer game at the University of Puget Sound on Sunday, Oct. 30, but the Loggers kept the Bearcats off the scoreboard in a 0-0 tie at Baker Stadium. The Bearcats ended the game with a 12-2-3 overall record, including 10-2-1 in the NWC. Puget Sound moved to 8-5-5 overall, 4-5-3 in the NWC.

With one game remaining on the regular season schedule, Willamette leads the NWC standings with 31 points, while Pacific Lutheran University holds second place at 10-3-0 and 30 points. The Bearcats will be the NWC champions if they win at Linfield University on Saturday, Nov. 5 in McMinnville, Oregon, or if PLU loses at Puget Sound on the same day. Both games will start at 1:30 p.m. (PDT). Willamette also can win the NWC title outright if both WU and Pacific Lutheran tie their opponents.

If Willamette loses to Linfield and PLU ties Puget Sound, the teams will be co-champions. The NWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament will be awarded to PLU on the third tie-breaker. The first tie-breaker is head-to-head results, but the Bearcats and Lutes split their two games. The second tie-breaker is head-to-head goal differential, but each team won by a 2-1 margin. The third tie-breaker is goal differential in all NWC games. PLU is +28 in NWC goal differential and Willamette is +21.

On Sunday, the Bearcats were credited with 62% possession for the game. Willamette held a 12-4 margin in shots over the first 45 minutes, and gained a 9-1 edge in shots during the second half. WU attained a 6-2 lead in shots on target.

Puget Sound goalkeeper Ryan Saunders accumulated six saves, with three in each half. Nine of Willamette's shots were blocked by the Loggers. The Bearcats finished the game with an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks, including 7-0 in the first half.

Pierce Gallaway (Sr., M, Carmel, CA/Carmel HS) topped the Bearcats with six total shots. Sean Kim (Jr., F, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) provided four shots, including two shots on goal. Luke Varav (So., M, Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) added three shots, while placing two shots on goal. Ardem Baronian (Sr., M/F, Los Altos, CA/St. Francis HS) contributed three shots, with one shot on target. WU goalie Pierluca Carnovale registered two saves and improved to 11-2-3 in goal with his fifth solo shutout of the season. Carnovale also has earned one shared shutout this year.

Graham Hall and Ryan Smith each took two of Puget Sound's five shots. Smith and Stuart Methner both produced one shot on target.

As the game neared its conclusion, the Bearcats created three shots in the final 4:01. Gallaway's shot at 85:59 was blocked, a shot by Kim went high at 86:32, and a shot by Baronian also went high at 87:51. Earlier in the second half, Saunders made saves at 48:48 on a shot by Varav, 65:02 on another shot from Varav, and about two minutes later on a shot by Baronian. The Loggers' only shot of the second half was taken by Hall at 59:26 and was blocked by the WU defense.