MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – In their first contests in over 14 months, the Linfield men's and women's soccer teams picked up wins in exhibition matches this weekend at the Linfield Soccer and Lacrosse Complex.
 
The men's team downed the Multnomah Lions, 3-0 on Friday night. The women's team prevailed 2-1 over the Corban Warriors on Saturday.
 
MEN
Friday night's match was the first contest on the newly renovated Linfield Soccer & Lacrosse Complex, made possible entirely through private contributions.
 
The 'Cats and the Lions were tied through the first 45 minutes. Linfield scored three goals in a span of 19 minutes in the second half to put the game away.
 
The first goal on the newly renovated soccer lacrosse facility came from Cesar Cruz-Espindola in the 50^th minute.
 
Less than three minutes after the Cruz-Espindola goal, the Wildcats were awarded a penalty kick. Chase Whittaker converted the kick to add another goal on the board for the Wildcats. Whittaker and Dayton Farrow led the team with three shots each and two on goal.
 
The third and final goal came in the 69^th minute when a cross pass was laid perfectly for Kohl Humphrey, who finished the kick in the bottom left corner of the newly built goals at the Linfield Soccer and Lacrosse Complex.  
 
Both Cruz-Espindola and Humphrey checked into the game at halftime. This was the first Linfield match for redshirt junior Humphrey, who missed the entire 2019 season due to a severe knee injury.
 
The Wildcats split time in net during the match. Julian Inches started the match in goal and played the first half. Freshman Henry Boudreaux played his first college minutes in the second half and saved the only two shots on goal from Multnomah.
 
Goalkeeper Pablo Mendoza-Osornia played all ninety minutes for the Lions, saving six shots. The Lions' Vince Gonzalez received a yellow card in the first half.
 
This match marked the first contest coached by first-year coach of the Linfield men's soccer program, Andrew Duvall.
 
WOMEN
The women were tied through the first half like the men. Neither team had a shot on goal in the first half, but the script was flipped as the two squads combined for eight in the second half.
 
Linfield scored its two goals in a span of two minutes. The first came from Izzy Chauls after a shot from Laura Hoover was deflected by the Corban goalkeeper Devan Archer, Chauls was there to clear it into the back of the net. Hoover got the credit for an assist.
 
Erika Olivera-Gutierrez hustled down the line to intercept a pass from a Corban defender and took a shot from about 23 yards out that went in for the second goal of the match for Linfield.
 
Madi Reimer started in goal for the Wildcats and played the first half, facing no shots on goal. Alyssa Bakkensen came in the second half and saved five shots to preserve the Wildcats' lead.
 
Corban got its only goal of the match on an own goal by Linfield. Natalie Amara blocked a header attempt and the ball went over Bakkensen's head into the net.
 
Jasmine Biava had four shots for the Warriors, Amara also had four shots, which was the team high for the Wildcats. This was the first match for Amara since 2018, missing last season due to a severe knee injury.
 
Junior transfers Jalissa Somers and Maddie Serafini as well as freshmen Jill Leroux and Ellie Friedrichsen made their first starts as Wildcats.
 
Linfield and Corban played a reserve-squad match later in the afternoon, the two teams tied 1-1.
 
UP NEXT
Linfield men host Warner Pacific on February 5 at 7 P.M. The women are scheduled for a doubleheader on February 6 against Multnomah at 1 p.m. and Bushnell at 5 p.m.