SALEM, Ore. - Junior midfielder Daniele Zaccagnini scored his second and third goals of the season to lead Pacific Lutheran to a 3-1 Northwest Conference men's soccer victory over the host Willamette Bearcats on Saturday afternoon. The match was the conference opener for both teams.

Zaccagnini opened the scoring at 12:31 on a shot from 16 yards. A through pass from Surafel Wodajo left Zaccagnini with only onrushing WU goalkeeper Mark Bennett to beat, and Zaccagnini placed the ball into the lower right corner of the net.

Willamette's Etienne Galbreath scored at 32:44 to tie the score. He recorded the tally on a header from six yards out and several yards to the left of the goal.

The tie score lasted less than a minute as Wodajo scored for the Lutes at 33:13 to give PLU a 2-1 lead. The goal, the second of the season for the sophomore midfielder, came on a 17-yard shot that was assisted by Scott Parsons.

Zaccagnini earned his second goal of the game to complete the scoring for Pacific Lutheran on shot from 14 yards at 68:00. Alex Schisel was credited with the assist.

PLU achieved a 15-9 edge in total shots, including a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal. Lutes junior goalkeeper Brian Kostol registered three saves. Bennett finished with six save for the Bearcats. Both teams earned five corner kicks.

The Lutes return to conference action at 2:30 p.m. Sunday when they play the Linfield Wildcats in McMinnville, Ore.

(Courtesy of Willamette Sports Information Office.)