Whitman Wins Close Battle with Bearcats 1-0 in Men's Soccer

Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University and Whitman College battled in men's soccer on Sunday, Sept. 20, and finished the match with nearly identical totals for shots, shots on goal, and corner kicks. Whitman scored the game's only goal and received five saves from goalkeeper Milo Cantor to grab a 1-0 win.

The Missionaries moved their record ot 1-4-0 on the season, including 1-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 1-5-1 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

Park Harmon provided the offensive spark for Whitman at 73:52 when he placed a shot into the upper right corner of the net following a throw-in. Paal Nilssen received an assist on the play.

Whitman earned a 17-15 advantage in total shots, but the Bearcats owned a 6-4 edge in shots on goal. Willamette achieved six corner kicks, while Whitman took five corners.

Cantor registered three saves in the first half and added two more during the second half. WU goalie Braydon Calder (Sr., GK, Philomath, OR/Philomath HS) made three saves for the Bearcats.

In the first half, Cantor stopped a shot by Jack Elton (Jr., D, Corte Madera, CA/Redwood HS) at 10:12 and added a save when Ethan Tait (Sr., F, Turlock, CA/Turlock HS) shot at 34:41. Late in the period, Cantor kept out a header by Yazan Hishmeh (Sr., F, Ventura, CA/Saint Bonaventure HS) at 44:03.

Whitman placed just one shot on goal in the first half, which was saved by Calder at 15:32.

Hishmeh, who led the Bearcats with four total shots, sent a shot goalward at 54:08, but a defender kept it from reaching the net. Collin Faunt of Whitman forced Calder into a save less than a minute later, and Connor Welty took a shot that Caleer saved at 63:84.

Needing a goal to tie the score, Willamette outshot Whitman 5-1 in the final 12 minutes. Between 78:06 and 79:56 the Bearcats took four shots, with the last two saved by Cantor on efforts by Royce Romero (Jr., D/M, Waipahu, HI/Punahou School) and Diego Ochoa (Fr., F, Coronado, CA/Coronado HS). Hishmeh missed wide right on a header at 81:25.

Willamette will travel to Forest Grove, Oregon, on Saturday, Sept. 26 to take on Pacific University in a Northwest Conference game at 2:30 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will host George Fox University at Sparks Field on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2:30 p.m.