MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Playing in their final non-conference tuneup of the season, the Linfield Wildcats defeated the Walla Walla Wolves 5-0 on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Wildcats improve to 2-3 on the season going into Northwest Conference play and the Wolves fall to 2-3.
 
Linfield was aggressive looking to score early, but the Walla Walla defense was able to keep away from the goal.
 
After missing on the first nine shots of the game, the Wildcats finally converted in the 38^th minute on a goal by Cesar Cruz-Espindola, his fourth of the season.
 
Second half was a different story for Linfield scoring just two minutes into the half by Ryan Kister, his second of 2019, on an assist by Cruz-Espindola.
 
Defending the Wildcats early on in the game took its toll on the Wolves, who allowed three goals in 10 minutes toward the end of the match. Scoring for the Wildcats were Dayton Farrow, Logan Clizer, and Isaias Flores. It was the first season goals for all three and first career goal for the freshman Clizer.
 
The Wildcats defense was outstanding on Sunday afternoon allowing the Wolves just one shot which came in the first four minutes of the game.
 
The back line of Makai Shriner, Owen Clayton, Luke Marks, and Marques Herrera-Kuehn maintaned the first shutout for the Wildcats, since September 30, 2018 against Whitworth.
 
Linfield outshot Walla Walla 20-1 in the game and also at the corner spot 10-2.
 
The lone shot on goal by the Wolves was saved by Cameron Perron, who got his first win of the season.
 
Linfield is now 4-0 all-time against Walla Walla, both teams have played each other the past three seasons.
 
UP NEXT
Linfield begins conference play next weekend hosting Whitworth on Saturday at 12 p.m. and Whitman on Sunday at 12 p.m.