NWC Men's Soccer: Whitman 3 - Willamette 1

With the loss, Willamette fell to 2-11-2 on the season, 0-9-1 in the NWC.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Whitman College scored a goal just 1:06 into the game, then took a 2-1 lead on another score with 1:22 left in the first period, as the Missionaries kept Willamette University battling from behind in a 3-1 win over the Bearcats on Saturday.

The Missionaries added their insurance goal about 17 minutes into the second half, as Whitman improved to 8-7 overall, 5-5 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 2-11-2 on the season, 0-9-1 in the NWC.

Jasper Lipton tallied the opening goal on an assist from Andy Huntingdon to put Whitman quickly into the lead. Huntingdon set up the goal with a long throw-in.

Willamette tied the game at 35:24, when Greg Beasley put a header into the net on a corner kick pass by Sam Hodder. It was Beasley's fourth goal and Hodder's second assist of the season.

The game appeared headed toward a halftime tie until Whitman's leading scorer, Stephen Phillips, provided a goal at 43:38.

Craig Yuen assisted on the play. Phillips leads the Missionaries with 10 goals and 1 assist for 21 points this season.

Huntingdon scored an insurance goal for Whitman at 61:53. His 10-yard shot went into the bottom right corner of the goal. Yuen and Phillips were credited with assists, as Whitman took a two-goal advantage.

Whitman achieved a 21-9 margin in total shots, but had just a 7-5 edge in the first half. The Missionaries ended the game with nine shots on goal, while WU managed just two shots on goal.

Despite being outshot, Willamette earned a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks, including 4-1 over the first 45 minutes.

WU goalkeeper Scott Klein supplied the Bearcats with six saves. Brett Axelrod of Whitman made one save.

Willamette will complete its two-game weekend road trip at Whitworth University on Sunday. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. in Spokane, Wash.

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