MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Despite putting 10 shots on goal Friday night, the Linfield Wildcats fell to College of Idaho Yotes, 3-1 in the first game of the season.
 
Both teams were aggressive to start the game as the Wildcats had an opportunity to score just six minutes into the game on a shot by Connor Heintz, but it was saved by the Yotes' Parker Billings, which was the theme of the game as Billings finished with nine saves.
 
While on one side of the field Billings was saving every shot he faced, Nick Van Kleek was doing the same for the Wildcats. Van Kleek saved five shots, which is tied for second most in his career.
 
The goalkeepers of both teams were stars of the first half as it was tied 0-0 at halftime.
 
The Yotes were finally able to get a ball past Van Kleek when a shot from Ben Bechor about 18 yards out ended up in the back of the net. Bechor added another goal in the 84^th minute which sealed the game.
 
The lone Wildcats goal came from the penalty spot as Romario Mendoza converted a penalty in the 79^th minute for the first Wildcat goal of the season.
 
Just 15 seconds after the penalty kick goal by Mendoza, Isaias Flores picked up his second yellow card, which forced the Wildcats to play down one man as they looked for the equalizing goal.
 
The Wildcats outshot the Yotes 21-13, but blocks by the Yotes' defenders prevented many shots from going to the net.
 
Another sign of aggressiveness from both teams were 32 total fouls and seven different players receiving yellow cards in the match.
 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats return to the pitch on Thursday night at 7 p.m. against Multnomah at the Linfield Soccer Complex.