Willamette Battles Whitman to 0-0 Tie in Men's Soccer

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Goalkeeper Braydon Calder (So., Philomath, OR/Philomath HS) registered seven saves and achieved his third complete-game shutout of the season, as Willamette University tied Whitman College, 0-0 in two overtimes at Sparks Field on Saturday, Sept. 21 during Willamette's Alumni Weekend. The game was the Northwest Conference opener for both teams.

Calder earned six saves in regulation, with three saves in each half. Later, he recorded the game's final save when he smothered a slow but accurate shot toward the attacking team's lower right corner of the goal with 1:02 left in the second overtime period.

Willamette is now 4-1-1 on the season, 0-0-1 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats are 4-0-1 at home. Whitman fell to 0-4-2 overall, 0-0-1 in the NWC.

Calder owns a 0.00 goals against average for the Bearcats in 380 minutes this season. In addition to three solo shutouts, he has contributed to two combined shutouts for Willamette.

Although Calder's save in overtime preserved the shutout, his biggest saves may have been two stops in quick succession in the second half.

The first save was on a shot by Nathaniel Fleming from an acute angle on the left side. Fleming shot low and toward the far post, but Calder sprawled to his left and managed to deflect the ball. Calder quickly lunged again, stopping a point blank shot by Alex Barsher, who battled a WU defender for the initial rebound.

Whitman finished the game with an 18-6 advantage in shots and a 7-2 edge in shots on goal. Barsher led all players with six shots. Sebastian Mortimer (So., D, Moscow, ID/Moscow HS) led Willamette with three shots.

Stuart Ellsworth earned the goalkeeper shutout for Whitman. Both of his saves were in the second half, when he stopped a header by Mortimer at 72:38 and grabbed a shot by Trevor Jensen (Sr., MF, Chula Vista, CA/Bonita Vista HS) at 81:18.

The game included nine corner kicks, with six by the Missionaries and three by the Bearcats. Whitman committed 28 fouls, including 25 in regulation time, while Willamette finished with 16 fouls.

WU will play at home again on Sunday (Sept. 22), when the Bearcats are set to host Whitworth University. Game time is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).