WALLA WALLA, Wash.  Sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way.

An 'own goal' in the final minute of the first half allowed visiting Eastern Oregon University to tote a skimpy lead into the halftime break, and eventually turning into the deciding goal in the Mountaineers' 2-1 victory over host Whitman College on Friday evening in non-conference men's soccer action at the Whitman Athletic Fields.

The Blues (0-1) registered more scoring chances in the opening half, and drew even in the 62nd minute with a goal from Gabe Jacobson. But EOU (2-0) knocked in the game winner in the 80th on a right-to-left cross near the end line.

Jacobson's marker came on a quick transition play through the midfield.

A leading pass down the left touch line was chased down by Peter Stephens who slotted a pass inside the top of the box to Jacobson who'd broken free from his defender. The senior easily pushed a shot into the right side of the net, beating Eastern goalkeeper Aidan Wright for the equalizer.

Over the course of the next 18 minutes it was the Mounties who created attacking pressure, however, reeling off five unanswered shots during the time frame, the last  being the cross from Julian Wells to goal scorer Jesus Pelayo.

Whitman's Noah Cavanaugh got off a shot from 25 yards out in the final minute but the attempt drifted up over the crossbar.

The game's opening goal was simply bad luck in the defensive third for Whitman as a clearing attempt deflected off another defender to ricochet into the Blues' own net.

Neither team rang up high numbers of shots, Eastern finishing with eight and the Blues with seven, over the course of the tightly-played contest but the Mounties added four corner-kick opportunities in the second half to help generate chances and possession.

Whitman returns to non-conference action Saturday at 7 p.m. against Corban University under the lights at the Athletic Fields.