Jensen Leads Bearcats with Two Goals and an Assist in 3-1 Win over Pacific

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Trevor Jensen (Sr., MF, Chula Vista, CA/Bonita Vista HS) scored two goals and earned an assist to lead Willamette University to a 3-1 victory over Pacific University in Northwest Conference men's soccer action at Sparks Field on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Willamette improved to 8-4-2 overall, 4-3-2 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific dropped to 6-8-1 on the season, 1-7-1 in the NWC.

The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead in the first half on a goal by Yazan Hishmeh (So., F, Ventura, CA/Saint Bonaventure HS) assisted by Jensen at 30:33. Hishmeh shot from 6 yards near the center of the goal after receiving Jensen's low cross from the right side. WU outshot the Boxers, 8-3, in the first half, including 3-0 in shots on goal.

Willamette increased its lead to 2-0 on Jensen's first goal of the game early in the second half at 47:10.

Jensen scored the goal on an unassisted shot from 18 yards on the right side into the upper left corner of the net. The play followed an aerial battle near the right edge of the box, with a Pacific defender heading the ball out. It went to Jensen, who prepared for the shot.

Pacific cut the lead to 2-1 when Ian Farley scored his 10th goal of the season at 61:02 following a corner kick. Steen Shober took the corner, providing a chance for Farley to head the ball into the goal from seven yards out.

The Boxers had a chance to tie the game when Nick Rudella took a penalty kick less than three minutes later at 63:55 following a foul in the box against the Bearcats, but WU goalie Braydon Calder (So., GK, Philomath, OR/Philomath HS) registered a save. Calder also saved a penalty kick in Willamette's 1-1 tie at Pacific in on Oct. 5.

About three and a half minutes after Calder stopped the penalty kick, the Bearcats went up 3-1 on Jensen's second goal. Jensen shot from 8 yards at 67:31, sending the ball from the right post into the lower left portion of the goal.

The play was set up by two short passes near the end line, first by Ethan Tait (So., MF, Turlock, CA/Turlock HS) and then by Adam Lewis (Jr., MF, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS/Pomona-Pitzer). Lewis and Tait each received an assist.

Farley took a shot for Pacific at 71:50 that Calder grabbed for his third and final save of the game -- all in the second half. Calder improved his goalie record to 7-3-2 on the season with a 0.95 goals against average in 1,011 minutes.

Willamette ended the game with a 14-8 advantage in total shots and a 7-4 margin in shots on goal. Jensen had five shots for the Bearcats, including three shots on frame. Hishmeh contributed four shots. Rudella achieved three shots -- two on goal -- for the Boxers. Pacific held a 7-3 edge in corner kicks.

The Bearcats will play at Sparks Field on Saturday, Oct. 26 against Pacific Lutheran University in a Northwest Conference game. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats and the Lutes are tied for fourth place in the NWC standings with 14 points from nine games.