By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Willamette University registered a 26-4 advantage in total shots versus Lewis & Clark College as the Bearcats defeated the Pioneers 4-2 in a Northwest Conference game on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Fernando Bitelli (Sr., F/M, Sao Paulo, Brazil/Roseburg HS, Ore.), Jett Starr (Sr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS), Tiago Palhetas (Fy., M/F, Mississauga, ON, Canada/Our Lady of Mount Carmel), and Lucas Carballo (Fy., F, Riverside, CA/Bloomington HS) each scored a goal.

Willamette improved to 4-5-1 overall and to 4-1-1 in the NWC. Lewis & Clark dropped to 0-10-0 for the season, 0-6-0 in the NWC.

The Bearcats scored the game's first three goals and held a 3-2 lead at halftime. Bitelli started the scoring spree at the 11:22 mark. He received a through pass from Krisna LaFrance (Jr., F, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) and shot from eight yards at the left, sending the ball into the lower right corner.

WU's second goal was scored on a rebound shot by Starr at 27:06. It was his fifth goal of the season and the 16th in his career.

The play began on defense with a lengthy clearance by Paddy Bell (Fy., D, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS). Starr headed the ball near midfield and Carballo beat a defender to gain possession and advanced toward the left side of the 18-yard box. Carballo shot from 15 yards out, but L&C goalie Ben Tallent deflected the shot. It went to Starr who scored from six yards into the left side of the goal.

Palhetas scored the third goal for the Bearcats on a 20-yard shot to complete a free kick. Kiernan Van Engen (Fy., M/D, Dobbs Ferry, NY/Dobbs Ferry HS) tapped the ball to start the play and Palhetas shot the ball into the lower left corner of the net.

Lewis & Clark tallied goals at 37:21 and 38:39 to pull within 3-2. Both goals were scored by Nadav Discovski. His first goal was recorded on a 9-yard shot into the lower right after Nathaniel Pi-Sunyer of L&C intercepted a pass by WU goalkeeper Ibrahm Garza (So., GK, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) and sent the ball to Discovski. The second goal was on a lengthy through pass by Tallent, as Discovski beat two WU players to the ball and shot from 14 yards.

Willamette extended its lead to 4-2 on a penalty kick by Carballo at 56:57. Carballo was fouled near the right edge of the penalty area while attempting to move toward the end line. His penalty shot went across the goal line  just to the right of center. It was Carballo's fourth goal of the season.

The Bearcats shut out the Pioneers in the second half while holding L&C to just one shot. Willamette accumulated a 10-0 margin in corner kicks.

Garza played the first 83 minutes in goal for the Bearcats. Ben McDonald (Fy., Portland, OR/Grant HS) was in goal for the final seven minutes and earned one save. Tallent made four saves for the Pioneers while playing all 90 minutes.

Willamette will take on Pacific University in an NWC game on Friday, Oct. 6. Kickoff at Sparks Field is scheduled for 8 p.m. PDT.