WALLA WALLA, Wash. —
Riki Kobayashi scored twice, including the game-winning goal in the 89th minute, as the Whitman College men's soccer team earned a hard-fought 3-2 Northwest Conference victory over Willamette on Saturday afternoon at James Hayner Field.
The Blues improved to 6-1-2 overall and remained undefeated in conference play at 4-0-1. Willamette fell to 1-4-2 overall and 1-3-2 in NWC action.
In a back-and-forth contest that featured two ties and a late lead change, Whitman found the decisive goal with 1:32 remaining. Kevin Serrano set up Kobayashi, who finished his second goal of the match and third of the season to break a 2-2 deadlock.
Willamette struck first in the ninth minute, when Asher Gaworecki scored off an assist from Cody Stark. Whitman controlled much of the first-half pressure, outshooting the Bearcats 12-1 over the opening 45 minutes, and eventually pulled even in the 42nd minute on an unassisted goal from Remy Marcks.
Kobayashi gave Whitman its first lead in the 60th minute, scoring unassisted after the Blues began the second half with sustained attacking pressure.
The Bearcats responded in the 80th minute. Paddy Bell finished a feed from Carter Heikkila to tie the match at 2-2, setting up Whitman's dramatic late winner.
Kobayashi led all players with eight shots, placing three on target. Marcks added three shots and his second goal of the season. Whitman finished with a 21-10 advantage in shots, while the teams were even with seven shots on goal for the Blues and five for the Bearcats. Whitman goalkeeper Niclas Isensee made three saves to earn the win.
Willamette goalkeeper Mikkel Jensen recorded four saves.
The Blues close out the weekend on Sunday against George Fox at 12:00 p.m.
#GoWhitman
