MCINNVILLE, Ore. – Whitman College men's soccer team was unable to overcome Linfield in their conference opener Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats scored early in the game and grabbed a lead that they would not surrender. There was too much to overcome as Linfield scored again before the Missionaries were able to score. Unfortunately, Whitman was unable to battle back and eventually falling 3-1.
 
Whitman (0-4, 0-1 NWC) started Saturday's game on the wrong foot, as Moi Diaz scored less than five minutes into the game for Linfield (5-2, 1-0 NWC), giving the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead. Whitman tried to capitalize, but Park Harmon's shot was saved by Linfield goalkeeper, Jorge Rodriguez. Just over a minute later, Noah Cavanaugh missed the equalizer wide and the Missionaries remained scoreless through the first half.
 
At the 20th minute, Diaz struck again, this time in a one-on-one situation that connected with the back of the net and gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. Whitman was unable to get anything going offensively before the half. The last chance the Whitties had in the first half was after they were granted a corner kick, but Marcos Medina missed high in the 30^th minute, as Whitman was unable to narrow the deficit before the break.
 
The Missionaries regrouped at the break and cut into the Linfield lead less than a minute into the second half. The goal came from Ben Freedman who took a shot from the left edge of the box and scored 59 seconds into the half. Less than three minutes later Cavanaugh missed the equalizer wide, but there were signs of life from the Missionaries.
 
Whitman stayed aggressive as the game progressed. Isaac Sappington's shot that would have tied the game was saved by Rodriguez, as Linfield clung to its one-score lead. The Wildcats extended their lead in the 69th minute after a corner kick from Alexander Gosslin found Aaron Barber-Axthelm who scored the header and gave the Wildcats a 3-1 lead with just 20 minutes remaining on the clock.
 
Whitman's final two shots of the game were both saved by Rodriguez. Paal Nilssen's header in the 83rd  minute missed wide and both Harmon and Daniel Kim had shots that were stopped by Rodriguez as the Wildcats held on for the 3-1 win over the Missionaries.
 
Whitman plays again next weekend with games Saturday and Sunday against Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound respectively.