McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The Wildcats offense found a new level on Wednesday night against defending Northwest Conference Champion Willamette. Linfield scored the most goals against a conference opponent since 2014 in a 4-3 victory over the visiting Bearcats (5-7-1, 5-4-1) at the Linfield Soccer Complex. The Wildcats victory over the Bearcats is their first since 2018.
The Wildcats (2-8-3, 2-5-2) finished with 15 shots, six on goal, three corner kicks and eight fouls.
Colby Reese finished with four saves while
Sid Kosaris scored two goals. In his first game action of the season,
Reece Gaines also found the back of the net.
E.J. Sablan accounted for two assists and netted a goal.
Multiple Wildcats received yellow cards with
Wolf Pfaeffle,
Evan Stafford,
Ross Vargo, Kosaris, Reese and Gaines all getting booked.
Kosaris scored the first goal of the match off an excellent cross from Sablan in the 10th minute. The lead was short-lived after Willamette's Jett Starr converted a penalty kick three minutes later.
Evan Meriscal gave Willamette an edge with a goal in the 30th minute but Kosaris' second goal only three minutes later brought the match even at 2-2. In the 39th minute, Linfield grabbed the lead after Gaines scored his career goal.
Sablan pushed the Linfield lead to 4-2 only 20 seconds into the second half with Gaines getting the assist. Willamette put the pressure on in the last 10 minutes and eventually, Lucas Carballo scored another penalty. The Bearcats continued to attack but the Linfield defense held strong to earn the victory.
The Bearcats finished with 19 shots, seven on goal, nine corner kicks and 12 fouls. Ibraham Garza tallied two saves. Andrew Reed received Willamette's only caution.
NEXT
The Wildcats look to keep their offense rolling on Saturday when they host George Fox at 2:30 p.m.
