FOREST GROVE, Ore. – On a Sunday afternoon during which Whitman College's men's soccer team out shot host Pacific (Ore.) University by a four-to-one margin and controlled possession throughout the Northwest Conference battle, the Missionaries were forced, but happy, to carry a 1-1 double-overtime tie to the team bus for the long ride back to Walla Walla.

The desire for a victory after a game which it dominated was high, but Whitman (1-7-1, 1-4-1 NWC) also recognizes the alternative in the win-loss column would have been devastating. Pacific (3-7-1, 1-4-1), on the other hand, certainly feels like it dodged a bullet on its home turf at Hanson Stadium.

The Dragons were actually the team to break the seal on the scoreboard, notching the go-ahead goal on only its second scoring chance in the first half. A Ryan Yoshida shot was blocked by a Missionaries defender and the ricocheting ball was collected by Josh Naples who poked a shot behind Whitman goalkeeper Baker Conte in the 37th minute.

From that point forward Pacific would total only three more shots over the final 73 minutes of the contest as a combination of offensive pressure and defensive acumen from Whitman shifted play downhill toward the Dragons' cage.

Whitman pounded away at the Pacific frame and goalkeeper Leyton Thommasen but an equally solid Dragon defense, blocking half of the Missionaries' shots before Thommasen would be called into action, enabled the home team to cling to its narrow advantage.

It seemed only a matter of time, though, and sure enough the equalizer eventually came for Whitman.

Gabe Jacobsen collected an uncontrolled save off his own shot from high in the box and then found the back of the netting early in the 60th, to the chagrin of Thommasen who collected a yellow card following the play.

Thommasen added three more saves over the remainder of regulation time -- including one on Daniel Kim's shot in the final minute -- before what would be a third Pacific yellow card at the horn resulted in a rare, time expired free kick for Whitman. Noah Cavanaugh curled his attempt around the four-player wall but another defender raced in behind to block the shot and send the game into extra time.

Though the Missionaries dominated play again, neither they nor the Dragons were able to get a shot on frame over the two 10-minute periods. A Whitman flurry in the 105th minute nearly ended the second overtime early but a defensive block and shot just wide of the left post allowed the contest to continue deadlocked through to the final horn after 110 minutes of action.

Baker Conte started in goal for Whitman and played the first half, coming up with one save and allowing one goal. As was planned, he gave way to Milo Cantor to start the second half and Cantor simply directed traffic in Whitman's defensive third as Pacific ended up getting just one shot off, not on goal, during Cantor's 65 minutes between the pipes. For Pacific, Thommasen finished with five saves and surrendered one goal.

Whitman will try to take the momentum gained from Sunday's dominating performance into its rivalry game against host Whitworth University, the nation's fifth-ranked team, on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Spokane, Washington.