TACOMA, Wash. – Alex White was sick of hearing the Willamette men's soccer team talk.
So, he did something about it.
The Pacific Lutheran senior defender rose up and headed in the game-winning goal in the 58th minute to help lead the Lutes to a 2-1 Northwest Conference victory Saturday at East Field.
The win over the eighth-ranked team in the country not only kept the Lutes conference title hopes alive, but it avenged a 2-1 loss to the Bearcats earlier this season.
"It feels great. They are a loud, cocky team," White said. "So, it is good that we finally battled through that and were able to pull through for a good win."
It didn't always look like the Lutes would pull through.
Willamette (12-2-2 overall, 10-2-0 NWC) jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the second half when Jett Starr slotted home his seventh goal of the season off an assist from Drew Alexander.
"We were playing a little naïve, but it was a bit of wakeup call," PLU coach John Yorke said. "They responded well."
That they did.
Trevor Thompson scored a golazo in the 51st minute off a beautiful pass from Keeton Heggerness. Thompson chipped Willamette keeper Pierluca Carnovale to tie the game.
Less than 10 minutes later, White climbed the ladder to head a ball over the outstretched hand of Carnovale off a pass from Robby Guyer setting off a wild celebration on the Lutes sideline.
"The ball got played short and usually I don't like when that happens," White said. "I tried to run back a bit and I saw the ball was played down the sideline, so I got in better position. I went to the far post and Robby played a great ball into me."
From there the Lutes defense held firm, though Willamette did hit the crossbar off of a corner in the 86th minute. The ball bounced harmlessly away, however, and the Bearcats couldn't capitalize.
"It is satisfying," Yorke said of his team rallying to win. "It is expected in the sense that we all expect that as a group, but you know when you have expectations you still have to make them happen.
"It was fun to see that even this late in the season, you can still grow as a team."
The victory keeps the Lutes (15-3-0, 9-3-0) three points behind the Bearcats in the conference standings with two games left to play.
Nicholas Gaston made one save in goal to earn the victory.
The Lutes finished with 13 shots to 11 for the Bearcats, but on target it was 11-2.
PLU closes out its regular-season home slate at 2:30 p.m. Sunday against Linfield at East Field. The Lutes will honor 12 seniors who will be suiting up for the final time at home.
