MCMINNVILLE, ORE. – On the first scoring opportunity for either team in overtime, Chase Whittaker converted on a shot from about 20 yards out to lift the Linfield Wildcats over the Whitworth Pirates in the conference opener on Saturday afternoon.
 
The second win in a row for the Wildcats bring them to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in Northwest Conference, while the Pirates fall to 2-4-1 and 0-1 in conference play.
 
The Pirates grabbed the early lead on a lazy shot attempt that was deflected by Luke Marks and went into the net. It was the second own goal for the Wildcats this season, both being last touched by Marks.
 
Both teams were even at 16 in shots and five at the corner spot, but the Pirates had 10 shots on goal with Cameron Perron saving nine of them.
 
Trailing at halftime, the Wildcats called on their leading goalscorer Cesar Cruz-Espindola and he tied the game in the 50^th minute with his fifth of the season.
 
Cruz-Espindola is third in the conference with five goals and second with 12 points.
 
Neither team was able to get the ball in the net after the Cruz-Espindola goal in the second half.
 
Both goalies, Perron and Whitworth's Jesus Nunez did a good job in stopping scoring opportunities for the other team.
 
Pirates made things interesting at the end of regulation with a shot that was saved by Perron with just a second left to force overtime.
 
Playing their first overtime game of the season, the Wildcats were able to get in Whitworth territory with a foul and Whittaker converted on a goal via an assist by Cruz-Espindola.
 
This was Whittaker's first goal since one against George Fox on October 20, 2018.
 
The Wildcats played four overtime games a season ago, they were 0-1-3 in those games.
 
Linfield has now won three straight games against Whitworth, but still trails in the all-time head to head 11-35-8.
 
The win helps the Wildcats jump to a four-way tie for first place in the conference, all conference teams have played one conference game so far.
 
UP NEXT
Linfield concludes its seven game homestand to start the season against Whitman on Sunday at noon.