Willamette Drops Undefeated #10 Whitworth, 3-2 in Double Overtime

By John Lind, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. Freshman midfielder Austin Jacobson (Salem, OR/South Salem HS) scored on an 18-yard shot into the extreme upper left corner of the goal one minute into the second overtime period to send Willamette University to a 3-2 victory over 10th-ranked and previously undefeated Whitworth University, on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Sparks Field.

Whitworth fell to 12-1-3 on the season, including 9-1-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette improved to 9-7-1 overall, with a 6-5-1 record in NWC action.

Also scoring for Willamette were Tyler Yates (Fr., F, Kailoa-Kona, HI/Kealakehe HS) and Trevor Jensen (Jr., MF, Chula Vista, CA/Bonita Vista HS), as the Bearcats built a 2-0 lead. In addition, Jensen assisted on the game-winning goal.

Yates opened the scoring at 27:26 on a 20-yard shot that deflected into the lower right corner. Jensen registered an assist on the play. Neither team scored over the remainder of the first half, with Willamette building a 6-3 advantage in total shots, including a 2-1 edge in shots on goal.

The Bearcats increased the lead to 2-0 less than three minutes into the second half, when Jensen shot from 30 yards out, sending the ball into the right side of the goal at 47:50.

Whitworth cut the deficit to 2-1 on a goal by Robby Ubben at 60:36. The goal was scored on an 8-yard shot that went into the right side of the net. Spencer Wolfe, who set up the play with a pass to Ubben, received an assist.

Colin Shockman of Whitworth received a red card and was ejected from the game at 81:15 for a high kick against Willamette's Yazan Hishmeh (Fr., F, Ventura, CA/Saint Bonaventure HS). The Pirates played the remainder of the match with 10 players.

At the 82:53 mark, the Pirates tied the score on a penalty kick goal by Balin Larson. The penalty resulted from a handball called against Etienne Galbreath (Sr., D, Portland, OR/Grant HS) of Willamette in the penalty area. Larson sent the ball past Willamette goalkeeper Brayden Calder (Fr., Philomath, OR/Philomath HS).

Neither team score in the final 7:07 of regulation and the teams headed to overtime tied at 2-2.

Willamette outshot Whitworth, 5-0, during the two overtime periods, including 4-0 in the first overtime. WU had a couple of excellent chances in the first 10-minute extra session, but two of the shots were blocked by the defense. One shot went high and one shot was wide. Jacobson scored on the first shot of the second overtime period.

The winning play began with a corner kick from the right side for the Bearcats. Jensen took the kick and played the ball short to Jacobson, who was several yards outside the penalty area and between the box and the sideline. Jacobson took several touches to move near the top of the penalty box, and then placed his shot in the upper left corner. It was his fifth goal of the season.

Jensen finished with one goal and two assists. He is Willamette's overall scoring leader with 18 total points on five goals and a team-high eight assists.

Whitworth's rally in the final 30 minutes of the second half allowed the Pirates to match Willamette with nine total shots as the game entered overtime. The Bearcats, however, used their advantage in overtime to end the game with a 14-9 edge in total shots. Both teams took five shots on goal.

Kyle Novak was in goal for all 101 minutes for Whitworth. He registered two saves. Calder played every minute for Willamette and also made two saves. He upped his individual goalkeeping record to 9-6-1.

Whitworth developed an 8-3 margin in corner kicks during regulation, but the Bearcats claimed a 3-0 edge in corner kicks during overtime. The game featured 28 total fouls, with 16 on Willamette and 12 on the Pirates.

The Bearcats will take on Whitman College in NWC action on Sunday, Oct. 28. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).