Reed and O'Grady score second-half goals as Bearcats down Puget Sound 2-1

Salem, OR - Men's Soccer picked up their second straight win, this time with a comeback against the University of Puget Sound at Sparks Field.  Second-half goals by Andrew Reed and Ryan O'Grady turned a 1-0 halftime deficit into a 2-1 Willamette victory.

Each team had opportunities early as the Loggers' Rhys Foote hit the crossbar in the 11th minute and a few minutes later Willamette's Tiago Palhetas had a shot saved off the goal line by a Puget Sound defender.  The away team broke through first as Foote was able to slot a shot past Bearcat goalkeeper Ryan Doyle in the 16th minute.  Puget Sound outshot Willamette 8-6 for the half and took a 1-0 lead to halftime.

The start of the second half belonged to the Bearcats as they came out firing with shots by Krisna LaFrance and Drew Alexander.  Then, in the 56th minute, the Bearcats got a penalty kick opportunity, but the shot by Sean Kim bounced off the frame of the goal.

Willamette kept attacking and a shot by Rory McKee led to a corner kick and Andrew Reed got his head on a ball delivered by Ryan O'Grady to tie the score.  Just over thirteen minutes later O'Grady would return the favor, this time delivering a through ball to Reed who placed his shot into the lower right corner of the Loggers' goal.

The Bearcats outshot Puget Sound 16-11 for the match and 9-4 on goal.  That included a 10-3 advantage in the second half.  Reed, LaFrance, and Palhetas each had two shots for Willamette.  Ryan Doyle played the full 90 for the Bearcats and had three saves.

Willamette's next match is Sunday, October 20th, when they host Pacific Lutheran University for another Noon kickoff.