Whitman keeps pace with PLU to remain in a tie at the top of conference standings.
McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The Whitman men's soccer team spent the first half knocking on the door and the second half kicking it down, getting second-half goals from Henry Pierce and Kevin Serrano to beat Linfield 2-0 on Sunday at Linfield Soccer Field.
The Blues (10-2-2, 8-1-1 Northwest Conference) have now won back-to-back league matches and sit comfortably in the conference's upper tier. The Wildcats fall to 3-8-3 overall and 2-6-2 in conference play.
A Dominant First Half Without the Payoff
Whitman controlled the opening 45 minutes, outshooting Linfield 7-2 and putting four shots on target. But Linfield goalkeeper Jacob Toves stood tall, turning aside all four. Riki Kobayashi and Luis Mendez Caballero tested him within six seconds of each other around the 11th minute, and Spencer Lovell and Serrano both forced saves in a flurry between the 28th and 30th minutes.
Pierce Breaks Through
The breakthrough came at 58:58. Keegan Chapko, who had been busy since entering the match, found Henry Pierce, and Pierce finished for his third goal of the season. It was the first goal for Whitman and a fitting reward for a pair of reserves who had made an immediate impact after the break. Chapko had fired off two shots in the first 10 minutes of the half before setting up the opener.
Serrano Seals It
Whitman kept the pressure on, winning corner after corner, and made it 2-0 in the 75th minute. Alex Evans, who had played all 45 first-half minutes and a good portion of the second, delivered the assist to Serrano, who buried his team-leading seventh goal of the year. Serrano led all players with four shots, two of them on target.
Isensee and the Back Line Hold Firm
Linfield pushed late, generating five second-half shots and a corner kick, and the Wildcats put real pressure on the Whitman goal in the final eight minutes. Between the 83rd and 85th minutes, Julian Lara-Martinez, Anderson Kelly and Jose Yanez all tested Isensee, who made saves on all three. He finished with four saves and earned his sixth win of the season (6-1-2) with a clean sheet.
Whitman looks to finish off its five consecutive road contests on Wednesday as the Blues head to Spokane to take on the Whitworth Pirates.
