MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – In the second meeting between the Linfield Wildcats and the Pacific Boxers this week, the Wildcats came out with a 2-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at the Linfield Soccer & Lacrosse Complex.
Goals from
Ryan Kister and
Cesar Cruz-Espindola guide the Wildcats to their first win of the season, they are now 1-2-0 overall and 1-2-0 in conference play. The Boxers are also 1-2-0 overall and in conference play. The two split the first two meetings of the season, they meet again in McMinnville on March 28.
Wildcats came out aggressive, attacking the Boxers' goal early. They had three shots on goal in the first 12 minutes. Linfield was awarded a penalty kick at the 12:38 mark, Kister converted it bottom left for Linfield's first goal of 2021.
Linfield outshot the Boxers, 15-7 in the match. Both teams had equal amount of corner kicks: five. In goal for the Wildcats,
Julian Inches made three saves. Cole Strizke played the first half for the Boxers, he made three saves. Connor Matto made one save in the second half.
In the 88
th minute, Cruz-Espindola got past the Boxers back-four on a pass from
Logan Clizer to score the second goal of the match. Clizer and Cruz-Espindola led the team with three shots each. Boxers shot leaders were Nico Allen and Mitch Takara.
Patrick Moes came in the second half and played his first college minutes. This win marks the first head coaching win for first-year coach
Andrew Duvall.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats are road next weekend to take on the George Fox Bruins on March 14 at 3 p.m.
