By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Ryan Sato (Sr., MF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) and Ardem Baronian (Jr., M, Los Altos, CA/St. Francis HS) each contributed a goal to give Willamette University a 2-0 lead, and the Bearcats went on to defeat Southwestern University (Texas), 2-1, on Friday, Sept. 3 at Trinity University. The game was the season opener for the Bearcats, who moved to 1-0. Southwestern dropped to 1-1.
Sato scored the game's first goal at 23:44 on a 25-yard strike that swerved into the upper right corner of the net. The goal was particularly special for Sato, whose penalty kick was saved by SU goalkeeper Jack Viles less than 10 minutes earlier at 14:09. Sato has scored 11 career goals, including 10 goals since the start of the 2019 season.
The Bearcats outshot Southwestern, 7-4, in the first half, but were unable to extend their 1-0 lead. Sato took four of Willamette's seven shots during the half.
A run by Jett Starr (So., M, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) down the left side of the field led to the Bearcats' second goal at 64:24. Starr shot from the edge of the penalty area. His shot bounced back after hitting the far post and was head into the goal by Baronian, who was near the left post.
Southwestern cut the lead to 2-1 with a goal by Carr Panetta at 77:18. Andrew Hernandez received an assist on the play. Hernandez opened the sequence with a pass from the left side to Panetta in the center of the 18-yard box. Panetta took a long touch to his left, which brought him wide of the goal before he shot back to the far right corner.
The Pirates battled to tie the game, but recorded just two more shots, as Willamette closed out the win. A shot by Fe Garduno-Jaramilo was wide at 79:17 and a shot by Keegan Hardy was blocked by a Bearcat defender at 88:16.
Willamette's starting goalie, Anthony Richard-Bassett (Sr., GK, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) was credited with the win and one save. Pierluca Carnovale (So., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) replaced Richard-Bassett shortly after WU took a 2-0 lead. He played the final 25:23. Viles registered three saves for the Pirates.
Southwestern gained a 9-3 advantage for total shots in the second half, as the Pirates achieved a 13-10 margin in total shots during the game. SU also claimed a 7-4 margin in corner kicks.
Willamette will play two more games in San Antonio. The Bearcats will face Trinity on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. CDT/11 a.m. PDT. Willamette is set to take on Occidental College (Calif.) on Monday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. CDT/8 a.m. PDT.
