Box Score
FOREST GROVE, ORE. – The Pacific men's soccer team sure picked a dramatic way to record its first tie of the season.
After being outplayed much of the game by an aggressively attacking Willamette side, the Boxers somehow maintained a 1-0 lead until the final minute of regulation when their good fortune ran out.
Brendan Dineen drove a ball off the left post and into the net after a flurry in front of the Pacific goal with 37 seconds left on the regulation clock. The score held through two overtime periods for a 1-1 draw that left the two teams deadlocked in fifth place in the Northwest Conference.
Willamette (4-4-1 NWC, 5-5-2 overall) held an 18-6 advantage in shots when Pacific's
Mason Nakama scored the first goal of the match in the 68
th minute, a beautifully-placed 20-yard strike from the left side into the right netting.
The Bearcats seemed to play most of the first half on Pacific's side of the field, but despite numerous tense moments, struggled to put a shot between the posts. Their best scoring chance came early on when Adan Vazquez chipped a ball over the top just past midfield and forward Erik Kaufman timed his run perfectly, creating a breakaway one-versus-one opportunity. Never shy to roam away from his line, goalkeeper
Michael Summers (So., Beaverton, Ore.) raced to the top of the box and smothered an errant touch, negating a golden chance for the visitors from Salem.
The action was intense and physical throughout the match, with the Bearcats whistled for 22 fouls to 10 for Pacific.
With time running out on Willamette in regulation, the intensity level skyrocketed. Sophomore midfielder Trevor Jensen served a corner kick from the left side that nearly bent into goal, deflected by Summers off the far post and over the end line. The retry from the opposite corner found its way to Mike McGrew, whose shot was blocked, while the rebound follow-up by Tim Ikehara-Martin sailed over goal.
After the ensuing goal kick, the Bearcats quickly regrouped and mounted one final assault as the clock ran under a minute to go. Robin Hryciuk fired a shot that was parried away by Summers, but Trevor Jensen got a touch on the ball to Dineen and the senior defender buried the equalizer.
Pacific (4-4-1, 4-8-1) produced the only shots in the first overtime period, with
Nick Rudella's (So., Sammamish, Wash.) header off a
Conor Peterhans (Sr., Seattle, Wash.) cross ending up in the hands of Willamette goalkeeper Alfredo Zuniga for the only shot on goal by either team.
Early in the second extra period, Jensen took a cross from Kaufman and directed a header low to the near post at the feet of Summers, who was able to contain the save. Later, Pacific's Antonio Maddedu (Jr., Milwaukie, Ore.) drove a beautiful ball from about 25 yards on the right side that Zuniga just got a fingertip on to direct over the crossbar. On the ensuing corner kick,
Garrick Knowles (Fr., Roseburg, Ore.) managed to serve to the head of
Devin Shull (So., Seattle, Wash.) to the opposite post, but the 6-foot-7 forward was unable to direct a shot toward the goal, his header sailing well wide with 30 seconds left in the match.
It was another fine performance in goal by Summers, who collected eight saves while facing a total of 26 Willamette shots, 10 on frame. Pacific managed 14 shots, with five finding the target. Maddedu led the Boxers with four shots, his late overtime strike the only shot on goal.
Kaufman led all players with six shots for Willamette, while Etienne Galbreath placed three of his four shots on frame.
The Boxers had a chance to jump into a fourth place tie with Whitman with a win after the Missionaries fell 2-1 at Pacific Lutheran. Pacific and Whitman square off next at Walla Walla on Saturday, Oct. 22 with the Boxers traveling to Spokane to take on NWC co-leader Whitworth on Sunday. Both matches kick off at 2:30 p.m.
