WALLA WALLA, Wash. - With an upset in mind, the Whitman College men's soccer team made it clear Saturday night that No. 9 Whitworth University was not going to have to look for a fight. The Missionaries, who honored their seven seniors before the Northwest Conference matchup, came out with a fearless energy. Although Whitman fell 3-1 to their conference rival, the battle was real; the Missionaries played a physical game and did not shy away from the Pirates at any point.
 
A late Whitman (3-13-2, 2-10-2 NWC) goal from Colin Faunt narrowed the Whitworth (16-1-1, 12-1-1 NWC) lead to two, but the Pirates held the Missionaries off down the stretch and secured the win. Whitman took eight shots on goal throughout the contest and knocked the Whitworth defense back at times. Unfortunately, the Pirate defense, led by goalkeeper Timmy Costa, did not crumble.
 
Although, Whitworth's Karl Muelheims scored an early goal, the Missionaries continued to fight. Whitman fired eight shots in the half and kept pressure on the Pirate goalkeeper.
 
Seniors, Isaac Sappington and Daniel Kim both tallied shots on goal in the first 45 minutes and led the Whitman attack for much of the half. Before the end of the half, Eric Espinoza extended the Whitworth lead to two, a lead that would hold until the break. The Missionaries entered the half with the same number of shots as their opponent, while Whitman goalkeeper, Baker Conte, equaled Costa's saves with two.
 
The uphill battle for the Missionaries continued into the second half. Senior, Nathanael Fleming's shot from the right side of the box early in the half nearly cut the Whitworth lead to one, but the shot was saved by Costa. In the 66th minute Park Harmon broke away for a one-on-one with Costa, Harmon fired a shot that nearly got by the Pirate keeper, but a last minute leg extension saved the shot and kept the Whitties off the board.
 
With just under 20 minutes remaining, opportunity knocked again for Whitman, this time in the form of back-to-back shots that narrowly missed. Marcos Medina delivered a cross pass to Faunt who shot and missed just right of the post. Not even a full two minutes later Harmon took a shot that required Costa's heroics yet again, and again the goalkeeper delivered.
 
Whitworth scored its third goal of the match in the 79th minute and put the game out of reach for the Whitties. Although, trailing 3-0 with under two minutes to go, the Missionaries showed no quit. Whitman's Connor Welty's header missed just high late, but in the 88th Faunt put in the Missionaries on the board with a shot from ten yards out. 
 
The Missionaries emptied the tank, taking 29 shots on a night that forced the Pirates' goalkeeper to make seven saves. Unfortunately, it was not enough to get Whitman the victory.