Box Score by Samantha Lund, Sports Inofrmation Student Assistant
PARKLAND - Pacific Lutheran Men's Soccer battled it out with the Willamette, forcing the Bearcats to earn the game. The Bearcats took a 3-2 win, which pushed the Lutes' record to 4-6 in conference and 7-9 overall.
Toughing it out through rain and wind, the Lutes gained the first goal of the game. PLU's Diego Aceves took the first goal of the game with an assist from Tarald Waerness to put the Lutes up 1-0 in the 39th minute. Aceves's goal was made from 10 yards away down the center of the field. This was Aceves's second goal of the season.
Willamette found a quick turnover and gained their first goal 4 minutes later. Sebastian Mortimer with an assist from Ross Garrett made a goal from 18 yards down the center of the field to tie the score at 1-1.
Another quick turnover gave the Lutes the ball with 50 seconds left in the first half. A corner kick from Jordan Downing gave Waerness a clear goal from six yards away. Waerness used his body to deflect the ball into the goal, past the Willamette keeper to bring the Lutes up 2-1 going into halftime. This goal was Waerness's first career goal for the Lutes.
The Bearcats took control in the second half. After gaining a penalty kick from a hand ball, Alan Hernandez took a goal in the 59th minute to tie the game at 2-2. The two teams continued to fight back and forth until the Bearcats made the final goal in the 73rd minute. Willamette attacked the goal, first hitting the crossbar, then being blocked by PLU keeper Mike Arguello, but finally Yazan Hishmeh was able to execute the goal for the Bearcats. Hishmeh's goal brought Willamette up 3-2 to end the game.
PLU outshot the Bearcats 21-12 with 10 shots on goal compared to Willamette's 7. PLU's Mike Arguello made 4 saves while playing all 90 minutes and Willamette keeper Braydon Calder made 8 saves.
The Lutes will return Sunday at 2:30 to take on the Linfield Wildcats. The Lutes will also be celebrating senior day before kickoff to honor their four seniors Justin Manao, Bryce Archameault, Drew Sadowsky and Kevin Wien.
