2007-08 Men's Soccer News

Season
Willamette Men's Soccer Team Announces Player Awards
Willamette Men's Soccer Team Announces Player Awards

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's soccer team has announced its player awards for the 2007 season. A total of four players were selected in recognition of their exceptional efforts during the year.

Pacific Lutheran Scores Late in Each Half for a 3-1 Win over Willamette
Pacific Lutheran Scores Late in Each Half for a 3-1 Win over Willamette

SALEM, ORE. -- Greg Beasley (Fr., F, Camas, WA/Camas HS) pulled Willamette University into a 1-1 tie with Pacific Lutheran University by scoring at 31:04 on Saturday, Nov. 3, but PLU scored late in each half for a 3-1 victory over the Bearcats. Pacific Lutheran broke the tie with a goal 2:04 before halftime, then added an insurance goal with 4:17 remaining in the game.

Williams Scores Twice for Pacific, as Boxers Defeat Bearcats, 3-0
Williams Scores Twice for Pacific, as Boxers Defeat Bearcats, 3-0

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Danny Williams scored two goals and Robin Grossman added two assists, as the Pacific University Boxers defeated the visiting Willamette University Bearcats, 3-0, in a Northwest Conference men's soccer game on Friday, Nov. 3 at Lincoln Park Stadium. Pacific scored all three goals in the first half, as the Boxers upped their record to 8-6-2 on the season, 6-5-2 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 2-14-2 overall, 0-12-1 in the NWC.

Linfield Scores Three Early Goals in 6-1 Victory over Bearcats
Linfield Scores Three Early Goals in 6-1 Victory over Bearcats

SALEM, ORE. -- Linfield College scored three goals in the first eight minutes and the Wildcats went on to defeat Willamette University, 6-1, in a Northwest Conference game at Sparks Field on Saturday, Oct. 27. Linfield improved to 8-7-1 overall and to 4-7-1 in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 2-13-2, including 0-11-1 in the NWC.

Pirates Shut Out Bearcats, 2-0, in Northwest Conference
Pirates Shut Out Bearcats, 2-0, in Northwest Conference

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Skye Henderson and John Prugh tallied one goal apiece, leading Whitworth University to a 2-0 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference game on Sunday, Oct. 21. Whitworth scored one goal in each half, as the Pirates upped their record to 12-2-1 overall, including 10-1-0 in the NWC. The Bearcats fell to 2-12-2 overall, 0-10-1 in the NWC.

Goal 1:06 into Game Propels Whitman to 3-1 Win over Willamette
Goal 1:06 into Game Propels Whitman to 3-1 Win over Willamette

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College scored a goal just 1:06 into the game, then took a 2-1 lead on another score with 1:22 left in the first period, as the Missionaries kept Willamette University battling from behind in a 3-1 win over the Bearcats on Saturday, Oct. 20. The Missionaries added their insurance goal about 17 minutes into the second half, as Whitman improved to 8-7 overall, 5-5 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 2-11-2 on the season, 0-9-1 in the NWC.

Puget Sound Pulls Away from Bearcats in Second Half, 5-1
Puget Sound Pulls Away from Bearcats in Second Half, 5-1

SALEM, ORE. -- The Bearcats of Willamette University scored first and put up a staunch battle against 11th-ranked University of Puget Sound, but the Loggers broke a 1-1 tie on a goal at 58:04 and eventually defeated WU, 5-1, on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Sparks Field. The Loggers moved to 11-1-1 overall, 6-1-1 in the Northwest Conference, while Willamette fell to 2-10-2 on the season, including 0-8-1 in the NWC.

Willamette Ties George Fox, 1-1 , on Costigan's Goal in Second Half
Willamette Ties George Fox, 1-1 , on Costigan's Goal in Second Half

SALEM, ORE. -- Conor Costigan (Fr., F, Hillsboro, OR/Glencoe HS) scored in the 52nd minute to pull Willamette University into a 1-1 tie with George Fox University, then neither team scored during the remainder of regulation and two sudden-death overtime periods, as the Bearcats and the Bruins finished in a draw at Sparks Field on Wednesday, Oct. 10. Willamette moved to 2-9-2 overall, 0-7-1 in the Northwest Conference. George Fox ended the game at 3-8-2, 1-5-2 in the NWC.

Pacific Defeats Bearcats 4-1, after Building 2-0 Halftime Lead
Pacific Defeats Bearcats 4-1, after Building 2-0 Halftime Lead

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University began its men's soccer game against Pacific University on Sunday, Oct. 7, with plenty of solid defending and crisp passing, but the Bearcats couldn't score during the game's first 30 minutes, and the Pacific offense eventually connected, as the Boxers claimed a 4-1 victory at Sparks Field. Pacific, which upset #5-ranked University of Puget Sound, 2-1 in two overtimes, on Saturday, improved to 5-3-2 overall, 3-2-2 in the NWC, after defeating Willamette. The Bearcats fell to 2-9-1 overall, 0-7 in the NWC.

Pacific Lutheran Defeats Bearcats, 5-0
Pacific Lutheran Defeats Bearcats, 5-0

TACOMA, WASH. -- Mike Ferguson scored two goals and Jason Bjorgo earned two assists, as Pacific Lutheran University defeated visiting Willamette University, 5-0, on Saturday, Oct. 6 at the PLU Soccer Field. The Lutes improved to 6-5 on the season, 4-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 2-8-1 overall, 0-6 in the NWC.

Bearcats Stay in Salem for Road Game at Corban
Bearcats Stay in Salem for Road Game at Corban

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's soccer team won't have to leave Salem, Ore., for their road game on Tuesday, Oct. 2. The Bearcats will be playing at nearby Corban College, starting at 4 p.m. (PDT), so the team will only have to travel across town.

Corban Retains Capitol Cup with 3-1 Win over Bearcats
Corban Retains Capitol Cup with 3-1 Win over Bearcats

SALEM, ORE. -- Crosstown rival Corban College defeated Willamette University, 3-1, in a non-conference game at Warrior Field on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Willamette scored first, but Corban tallied two goals before halftime, then added an insurance goal with 4:14 left, as the Bearcats pressed forward to create a tying goal. The game featured 42 shots, including 19 shots on goal. Corban upped its record to 4-5-2, while Willamette fell to 2-7-1.

Linfield Earns Shutout of Bearcats, 4-0
Linfield Earns Shutout of Bearcats, 4-0

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Linfield College scored three goals in the first half, including a goal with 1:18 left before the intermission, on its way to a 4-0 Northwest Conference victory over Willamette University on Saturday, Sept. 29. Linfield moved to 5-3-1 overall and to 1-3-1 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 2-6-1 on the season, 0-5 in the NWC.

Bearcats Miss Early Opportunities in Loss to Whitman
Bearcats Miss Early Opportunities in Loss to Whitman

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University outshot Whitman College 10-7 in the first half, but the Bearcats missed on several quality scoring chances and Whitman took a 1-0 lead at the half. The Missionaries added two goals in the second half and outshot the Bearcats 8-2 over the final 45 minutes. The 3-0 win improved Whitman to 6-3 on the season, including 3-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette dropped to 2-5-1 overall and to 0-4 in the NWC.

Pirates Score Twice in Second Half in 3-0 Win over Willamette
Pirates Score Twice in Second Half in 3-0 Win over Willamette

SALEM, ORE. -- Whitworth University scored twice in the second half to expand on a 1-0 halftime lead, as the Pirates defeating Willamette University, 3-0, in a Northwest Conference men's soccer game on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Sparks Field. Whitworth upped its record to 5-1-1 overall and to 3-0 in the NWC. Willamette's record moved to 2-4-1 overall, including 0-3 in the NWC.

Puget Sound Breaks 0-0 Tie by Scoring Five Goals in Second Half
Puget Sound Breaks 0-0 Tie by Scoring Five Goals in Second Half

TACOMA, WASH. -- Freshman forward Kyle Benson scored a hat trick in the second half for the University of Puget Sound, as the Loggers pulled away from a 0-0 halftime tie to defeat visiting Willamette University, 5-0, in a Northwest Conference game on Sunday, Sept. 16. The offensive surge by Puget Sound in the second half improved UPS to 6-0, 1-0 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 2-3-1, 0-2 in the NWC.