SALEM, Ore. – A rocket shot from outside the box into the top, left corner from Whitman College's
Riley Paul propelled the visiting Missionaries past host Willamette University, 2-1, on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon on the slick turf of Sparks Field.
The eventual game-winner for Whitman (10-9, 6-7 NWC) came early in the 58th minute. Two minutes after a Willamette (12-5-2, 9-2-2) corner kick opportunity the Missionaries had worked the ball down the right touch line.
Noah Cavanaugh pushed a pass toward the center of the field where Paul gathered in the assist and quickly pasted a hard shot toward goal. Leaping Bearcats goalkeeper Braydon Calder wasn't able to get a glove on the shot as it snuck into the corner to complete a Whitman come-back from a 1-0 deficit.
The home team gained the first advantage of the day on a deflected shot that caromed off the underside of the crossbar and over the goal line at 40:29 in the opening half. Jesse Thompson earned the goal, his fifth of the season, for Willamette.
That lead failed to last even 90 seconds as
Daniel Kim scored for Whitman its next trip down field. A Paul shot was blocked by a defender in the box but Kim was able to gather in the loose ball and knock one off the inside of the left post for the equalizer at the 41:47 mark. The goal was Kim's fifth.
Both teams generated a look or two at the goal in the early going of the second half but none of the forays into the attacking ends threatened either goalie.
Until Paul broke the tie with his third of the year.
Whitman goalkeeper
Stuart Ellsworth came up with a save late in the contest, off a header in the 84th, to preserve the lead after enjoying the first favorable bounce off the post for a defending team eight minutes earlier as a shot off a free kick by Willamette deflected off a Whitman defender then clanged off the post without incident.
Saturday's win evens the season series for Whitman after the Bearcats had stolen a 1-0 double-overtime road victory earlier in the schedule.
Whitman closes out the regular season Saturday, Nov. 8 at home at the Sherwood Athletic Fields with a Senior Day rivalry contest against Whitworth University at 1:30 p.m.,
