SALEM, Ore. – In a battle against cross-town rival and NAIA member Corban University, Willamette University's men's soccer team began its 2025 season with an exhibition victory, 1-0, Sunday evening on Sparks Field.
Despite tonight's outcome, the Bearcats did not put a win in that column due to a non-counting contest but did extend their unbeaten streak against the visiting Warriors to three straight games dating back to the 2023 season. On the other hand, Corban continues its 2025 season with the team's second straight loss to a Northwest Conference opponent falling to 0-2 on the year.
In a hard-fought first part of the game, Willamette broke through with the eventual game-winning goal in the 20th minute when sophomore Brenden Pineda connected with senior Dylan Ray on a crossing pass in the box. With Pineda streaking down the far sideline, the second-year Bearcat sent a lofting pass into the box where the ball found a streaking Ray who redirected it into the back of the net at the 19:50 mark.
Neither team mustered much offense over the final 25-plus minutes of the first half, as Willamette held an advantage in total shots (7-2) that included 4-to-1 in shots on goal.
Corban nearly found the equalizer in the 58th minute when Willamette was whistled for a handball inside the penalty box that awarded the visiting Warriors a penalty kick. Corban's Nathan Martinez stepped to the penalty circle and directed a low shot along the ground that caused Willamette's junior goalkeeper Mikkel Jensen to make a diving stop to his left to save the potential game-tying goal.
That would be as close as either team would come to scoring for the remainder of the game, as the momentum never seemed to swing one way or the other. Willamette and Corban tied for total shots in the second half, as each team registered seven with both squads putting four shots on goal.
Jensen earned the shutout by registering a team-high five saves between the pipes for Willamette, while Corban's net-minder Isaac Pureco recorded a game-high seven saves despite suffering the loss.
As a team, Willamette outshot Corban, 14-9, despite the visiting Warriors holding a 7-to-5 advantage in shots on goal. The host Bearcats were led offensively by senior Lorenzo Trejo De Dios and first-year player Jackson Cosner with three shots each, while Martinez and Santiago Castano paced Corban with two shots apiece.
Willamette will officially kick off its 2025 campaign on Saturday, August 30, when the Bearcats travel to Northern California to take on the Banana Slugs of the University of California, Santa Cruz beginning at 11:00 AM in Santa Cruz, California.
