Salem, OR - Willamette men's soccer got the conference season off to a great start thanks to two goals from sophomore Matt Chase.  The goals came on either side of halftime, the first coming in the 42nd minute and the second in the 57th minute.

Willamette controlled much of the first half but wasn't able to find the back of the net until Chase finished off a corner-kick delivery from Tiago Palhetas.  It was off one of eight corner kicks and seven shots for the Bearcats who put pressure on the visiting Pioneers from the start.  

The second goal was also started from a corner kick that was played short to Andrew Reed who played the ball into the box that Chase was able to slide past the keeper to the the right side and off the post into the goal.

For the game, Willamette outshot Lewis & Clark 16-9 and 9-3 on goal.  The Bearcats had 12 corner kicks in the match to just three for the Pioneers.  Ibrahm Garza played the full 90 minutes in goal for the Bearcats and made three saves to earn the shutout victory.

Men's soccer travels to Tacoma this weekend to play Pacific Lutheran on Saturday, September 21st, and Puget Sound on Sunday, September 22nd.  The Bearcats' next home match is Sunday, September 29th against George Fox.