MCMINNVILLE, ORE. – Despite eight shots on goal, the Linfield Wildcats fell 1-0 to the Warner Pacific Knights on Wednesday night at the Linfield Soccer & Lacrosse Complex.
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Though this match was an exhibition for the Wildcats, it counts towards the overall record for the Knights, who start their 2021 spring season 1-0.
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Both teams had plenty of opportunities to score in the first half, totaling 14 shots over the first 45 minutes.
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Warner Pacific scored the lone goal of the match in the 43
rd minute, a shot from Armando Nieblas from just outside the 18-yard box went into the top left pocket of the net, off the reach of
Cam Perron. Babucarr Touray had the assist on the goal.
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Linfield split its lineup over the two halfs, with
Logan Clizer being the lone player that appeared in both halves. He was the team leader with three shots.
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In the first half,
Connor Heintz,
Seamus Miller and
Shoma Okita had two shots each for Linfield.
Brady Anderson and
Cesar Cruz-Espindola had two shots each in the second half.
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Warner Pacific's Luis Hernandez made eight saves and gets his first win of 2021. For the Wildcats, Perron played the first half, making a save and
Peyton Frazier played the second half, stopping five shots on goal.
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Brandon Medrano led the Knights with four shots.
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Three of the Wildcats scoring opportunities came via the corner kick, while the Knights had two corner kicks.
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UP NEXT
Linfield hosts Bushnell (formerly known as Northwest Christian) for another exhibition match on Saturday at 7 p.m. The first regular season contest is scheduled for Sunday, February 28 against George Fox.
