MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – In a Friday night clash with visiting Augsburg, the Linfield men knew they had an uphill battle. The Auggies got wins or ties against three separate top-25 opponents from a season ago and came into McMinnville with a high pedigree. Augsburg outshot the Wildcats 16-8 but a late goal from
Max Testa squared the final score at 2-2.
Angel Hernandez scored the first goal for Linfield after a ball found his right foot and he booted it into the net less than seven minutes into the game. Janneh Kebba scored the next two for Augsburg as the visiting team took a 2-1 lead going into halftime.
The Wildcats pulled closer offensively in the second half only trailing the Auggies 5-4 in total shots. It wasn't until a set piece in the final few minutes of the second period that
Sid Kosaris sent the ball into the six-yard box. It ultimately found the feet of Testa who then punched it in to tie the game at two apiece.
Augsburg pushed attacking players forward a couple of times in the closing minutes but the Linfield defense held strong.
A sense of physicality was definitely present as each side received a yellow card and Kosaris was sent off the pitch for receiving a red card.
New goalkeeper,
Dylan Watkins was tested early by the Auggies speed and saw four shots come his way in the first half and in the end, wound up with five saves.
NEXT
The Wildcats are back on home turf when Caltech comes to town on Sept. 3. Linfield will then travel for its upcoming contests against La Verne on Sept. 8 and Pomona-Pitzer on Sept. 10.
