PARKLAND - Pacific Lutheran rallied from a 1-0 halftime
deficit with a pair of second half goals to defeat the Whitman
Missionaries, 2-1, in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match
played Saturday at the PLU field.
The Missionaries (2-3-2 overall, 1-1-1 NWC) took a 1-0 lead at
18:35 when Todd Wallenius scored a penalty kick following a hand
ball in the penalty box by PLU central back Derek MacLean.
Wallenius shot to the lower left corner as keeper Brian Kostol dove
the other way.
PLU controlled the first half of the match with 15 shots,
including 11 on frame to just one shot, the penalty kick, for the
Missionaries. Whitman keeper Nic McDonald made 11 first half saves,
including several of the acrobatic variety.
The second half was much more evenly played as Whitman took the
fire out of the PLU offense. Though the Lutes managed just four
shots in the second half, they scored on two of them.
Andy Hyres tallied the first at 59:02, running past a defender
to a through ball from Surafel Wodajo and left-footing a
shot past McDonald and into the far netting. The goal was the
second of the season for Hyres. Exactly nine minutes later, Daniele
Zaccagnini notched his third goal in as many matches and his fourth
of the season, turning on a loose ball and shooting to the lower
left corner. McDonald was screened by two of his own defenders who
were closing on the play when Zaccagnini took his shot.
Whitman had the majority of the possession in the closing
minutes but could not draw even against Kostol and the PLU defense.
PLU finished with 19 shots to just four for the Missionaries,
and PLU also enjoyed a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. McDonald
finished the match with his 11 saves while Kostol was called on
just one time.
- PLU -
