Bearcats Drop Close Game to Loggers, 3-2

By Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

TACOMA, WASH. -- The Willamette University men's soccer team scored two goals in the second half but could not overcome a three-goal deficit from the first half. The Bearcats were defeated by host University of Puget Sound, 3-2, on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Willamette is now 4-11-0 overall and 3-7-0 in the Northwest Conference. The Loggers have climbed to 7-7-2 overall and 4-4-2 in the NWC.

Puget Sound jumped out to an early 1-0 lead just 41 seconds into the game. Sean Rice scored on the Loggers' first offensive attempt of the game. Fifteen minutes later, Rice found the back of the net again to give the Loggers a 2-0 lead. Rice was assisted by Zach Semago on the second goal.

The Loggers were able to tally one more goal before the end of the half when Cole Peterson scored on a header off a corner kick at 28:18. He was assisted by Derek Woodworth. Peterson's goal gave UPS a 3-0 halftime lead.

Willamette's offense came alive in the second half. The Bearcats got two goals from senior Casey Dineen (MF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS). Dineen scored his first goal off a corner kick from senior Luke Lagattuta (MF, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) at 85:26. Just over three minutes later, at 88:51, Dineen found the goal again on a penalty kick. The goals were the fourth and fifth of the season for Dineen.

For the game, Willamette out shot Puget Sound, 13-10. Puget Sound attempted eleven corner kicks compared to Willamette's three.

Chris McDonald was the winning goalkeeper for the Loggers. Eben Hellekson (Jr., GK, Honolulu, HI/The University Laboratory School) was the losing 'keeper for the Bearcats. He recorded five saves in his 90 minutes of play.

Willamette will play at Pacific Lutheran University on Sunday, Oct. 25. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT) in Tacoma, Wash.