Whitman Slips Past Bearcats, 2-1, in Northwest Conference Action

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Riley Paul scored a goal for Whitman College at 58:17 to break a 1-1 tie, and the Missionaries kept Willamette University from scoring the rest of the way for a 2-1 victory over the Bearcats at Sparks Field on Sunday, Nov. 2.

The Northwest Conference win improved the Missionaries to 10-8 overall, 6-6 (18 points) in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 12-5-2 overall and to 9-2-2 (29 points) in the NWC. The Bearcats moved from first place in the conference standings into second place, as Whitworth University gained the top stop at 9-1-3 (30 points) with one game remaining.

Whitworth defeated Linfield College 5-0 on Sunday. Also on Sunday, University of Puget Sound lost at Pacific University, 3-2, as the Loggers fell from second place to third place in the NWC with a 9-3-1 record (28 points).

The Bearcats and the Missionaries remained scoreless for most of the first half. At 40:29, Jesse Thompson (Jr., F, Santa Ynez, CA/Santa Ynez HS) of Willamette scored the game's first goal. The ball bounced among several players in the box before Thompson connected from seven yards out. His shot deflected off a defender on its way toward the goal.

Whitman answered just over a minute later, when Daniel Kim scored on an assist from Paul at 41:47. Kim shot from 16 yard away, sending the ball low off the left post and into the net.

At halftime, the Missionaries held a 5-4 edge in total shots. The team combined for 18 additional shots in the second half, with Whitman earning a 10-8 advantage. Despite the number of shots, each team had just one shot on goal in the final 45 minutes.

Whitman's shot on goal was a blast from 28 yards out by Paul that went high into the net to give the Missionaries the lead. Noah Cavanaugh received an assist on the play.

The Missionaries kept the lead for a bit less than 32 minutes to secure the win. Whitman almost extended its advantage through a bit of luck, when a free kick went off a defender and hit the left post at 75:19, but the ball remained in play.

Willamette earned four shots in the final seven and a half minutes. Thompson's header went wide left at 82:30. One minute later, Thompson launched another header that was saved by Whitman goalie Stuart Ellsworth. Yazan Hishmeh (Jr., F, Ventura, CA/Saint Bonaventure HS) missed wide left at 88:17, and Thompson went wide left with a header at 89:20.

Ellsworth and Willamette goalkeeper Braydon Calder (Jr., GK, Philomath, OR/Philomath HS) each made one save during the game. Each team achieved one corner kick, with both corners gained in the second half.

Cavanaugh led all players with five shots for Whitman, while Paul added four shots. Thompson took four shots for the Bearcats.

Willamette will play again at Sparks Field on Saturday, Nov. 8. The Senior Day match-up with archrival Linfield College is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. (PST).