By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Fernando Bitelli (Sr., F/M, Sao Paulo, Brazil/Roseburg HS/Lane CC) of Willamette University scored just over a minute into the game and added an insurance goal in the second half to lead the Bearcats to a 3-0 win over Linfield University on Wednesday, Sept. 13. The game, played at Sparks Field, was the Northwest Conference men's soccer opener for both teams.
Willamette improved to 1-4-0 overall and to 1-0-0 in the NWC. Linfield slipped to 0-4-1 on the season, 0-1-0 in the NWC.
Bitelli opened the scoring at the 1:07 mark as the game was just getting underway. He gained control of a loose ball in the attacking penalty area and shot from 13 yards on the left side as he blasted the ball into the right side-netting. The unassisted goal kept WU in front 1-0 for the rest of the first half and nearly 24 minutes into the second half, at which point the Bearcats doubled their lead.
It was Bitelli who scored the second goal. He shot at 69:47 from seven yards, sending the ball across the goal line near the lower left corner. Drew Alexander (So., D, San Mateo, CA/Junipero Serra HS), who entered the game just moments before the goal, received an assist for his crossing pass from the right side.
Jett Starr (Sr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) provided the final goal of the evening when he scored from six yards in the middle of the goalie box. He redirected a pass from the right side by Luke Varav (Jr., M/F, Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS). The scoring play began with Varav weaving his way through two defenders near the top of the 18-yard box and then sending a low line-drive cross toward Starr.
Willamette outshot Linfield 20-12, including 11-4 in the first half. The Bearcats also held a 10-5 margin in shots on target. Bitelli of Willamette and Cameron Gaines of Linfield each took five total shots and three shots on goal to lead all players. Varav and Lucas Carballo (Fy., F, Riverside, CA/Bloomington HS) both added three shots for WU, with Varav placing two on target and Carballo earning one shot on goal. Sid Kosaris took three shots for the Wildcats. WU earned a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Goalkeeper Pierluca Carnovale (Sr., Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) played all 90 minutes for Willamette and registered five saves. Two of his saves in the second half were exceptional, as he snagged one shot near the attacking right post and later tipped one powerful shot over the crossbar. Colby Reese made six saves for Linfield.
The Bearcats will play at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 2:30 p.m. PDT. It will be Willamette's first NWC game against the Pioneers, who added men's soccer as a varsity sport last season and are competing in the NWC in men's soccer for the first time this year.
