McKee and Albrecht score goals as Men's Soccer ties Linfield 2-2

Salem, OR - Rory McKee and Owen Albrecht each scored their first goal of the season for Willamette, and the Bearcats tied Linfield 2-2 at Sparks Field on Sunday.  The Bearcats outshot the Wildcats 20-4 in the second half but weren't able to find the game-winner.

Willamette had the better of the play early on in the match, but it was the Wildcats who broke through first when they had a player taken down in the box and EJ Sablan converted on the penalty kick in the 28th minute.

Willamette was able to tie the score in the 42nd minute when Rory McKee volleyed home a long pass from Andrew Reed to put the Bearcats on the scoreboard.  Unfortunately for the Bearcats, before announcer Jef Lucero was even able to announce the goal the Wildcats responded with a goal of their own and took a 2-1 lead to the halftime break.

The game-tying goal for Willamette would come off the foot of Owen Albrecht in the 56th minute.  Albrecht took a pass across the middle for Tiago Palhetas and when the Linfield defense didn't step up to apply pressure Albrecht took advantage and placed a shot in the upper right corner of the goal.  

The Bearcats spent the majority of the second half in Linfield's half of the field and outshot the Wildcats 20-4 over the final forty-five minutes.  For the game, Willamette outshot Linfield 26-9, but only 9-5 on goal.  

Sean Kim fired eight shots for Willamette, followed by Palhetas with four.  Andrew Reed, Krisna LaFrance, and Jayson Gordon each contributed three shots.  Reed and Palhetas each had an assist.

Willamette travels midweek to take on Lewis & Clark College on Wednesday, October 16th.  Kick-off is scheduled for 5:00 pm.  They return to Sparks Field next weekend to take on the University of Puget Sound and Pacific Luthern University.