MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Holding the top scoring offense in the Northwest Conference to just one goal through the first 100 minutes, the Linfield Wildcats fell to the Pacific Lutheran Lutes on a windy and rainy Sunday afternoon, 2-1 in second overtime.
Connor Heintz scored the game-tying goal for the Wildcats.
The Lutes lead the NWC at 7-0-2, while the Wildcats have lost five straight and are now 2-6-1 this season.
Coming off a 4-1 loss to Puget Sound on Saturday, Linfield came to play Pacific Lutheran on Sunday and was able to keep the Lutes off the scoreboard.
Freshman
Julian Inches made his second start in a row and saved nine shots, the two goals he gave up were to the top scorers in the NWC. Zak Gregg had the first goal and Keeton Heggerness had the other goal for the Lutes, both have 12 on the season.
The Lutes had the lead, but the Wildcats were aggressive in the middle of the field and kept the Lutes from getting behind the defense.
Towards the end of the first half,
Henry Rosenfeld put a great pass in position for Heintz, who dribbled in about 10 yards before putting it in the back of the net and tying the game, it was the second goal of the season for Heintz.
Pacific Lutheran had 21 shots on the afternoon, but about half of them went just wide of the goal. Inches was there to save nine of the shots that went on goal and kept the Wildcats in the game.
The Lutes got close to untying the game in the second half, but were not able to and the game headed into overtime, it was the fourth overtime game of the season for the Wildcats, they were 2-0-1 coming in.
In the first overtime period, both teams had two shots, but both teams had shots that went just wide and could have ended the game.
Pacific Lutheran was able to get through the Wildcats defense in the 102
nd minute when a ball by Gregg was kicked in by Heggerness, just past the hands of Inches to end the game.
The Wildcats had eight shots, but only four went on goal.
Isaias Flores had three of the shots, but only one went on goal and was saved by the Lutes' Cole Weaver.
Owen Clayton picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and will miss the next Saturday's game against Pacific.
Linfield has lost five straight games and come up with just one point in its last six. Linfield was swept in the season series by both Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound.
UP NEXT
The Linfield Wildcats head on the road to face Pacific on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. before returning home to face George Fox on Sunday at 12 p.m.
