Linfield University Athletics

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Linfield men's soccer (0-0-1) opened the 2026 season on Tuesday evening, earning a shutout in a 0-0 draw with Evergreen State (0-0-2).

Johann Singh Sanchez produced the Wildcats' first attempt less than four minutes into the match, sending a shot wide left. Julian Lara-Martinez put the Wildcats' first shot on target in the 20^th minute, forcing the Evergreen goalkeeper to make a save. Taye Lau followed less than a minute later with another shot on goal, and Nate Prenovost tested the Geoducks in the 23^rd minute. 

Prenovost had another attempt blocked before Lara-Martinez earned Linfield's first corner in the 26th minute. Caleb Ishizaka then forced another Evergreen save and helped the Wildcats earn consecutive corners as Linfield searched for the opening goal.

Evergreen threatened at the other end, but Colby Reese was steady in goal. The Linfield keeper made his first save in the 13th minute and added another in the 37th. The Geoducks came closest to breaking the deadlock just before halftime, striking the post with 37-seconds remaining. Linfield escaped the late surge and entered halftime scoreless. 

Linfield finished the opening 45 minutes with an 11-9 advantage in shots and a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. The Wildcats also generated four first-half corner kicks.

Evergreen tested Reese three times early in the second half, but the 'Cats keeper maintained the clean sheet.

Caleb Ishizaka sent a shot high in the 52nd minute before the Wildcats earned another corner kick in the 58th. Sanchez had an attempt blocked in the 67th, and substitute Beckham Poirot followed moments later with a shot over the goal. Sanchez generated another opportunity in the 71st minute but pushed the attempt wide right. 

Evergreen was whistled for 18 fouls in the match and received five yellow cards, including two at the 78:10 mark. Linfield committed eight fouls and received one yellow card, issued to Derek Rowe late in the first half. 

Brody Dalgaard put a shot on target in the 78^th minute, but Evergreen's second-half goalkeeper made the save. The Wildcats earned one final corner with just over a minute remaining when Sanchez delivered the ball into the area, but they could not convert.

Reese's five-save performance anchored a Linfield defense that kept Evergreen off the scoreboard despite 15 shots and five corner kicks. Anderson Kelly and Matthew Cole each played the full 90 minutes in front of Reese, while Rowe also went the distance. Jaren Nishikawa contributed 86 minutes on the back line. 

Offensively, Linfield's seven shots on goal came from seven different players: Rowe, Lau, Lara-Martinez, Ishizaka, Oli Gaines, Prenovost and Dalgaard. Evergreen used two goalkeepers to preserve its own clean sheet, making a combined seven saves.

The draw moves Linfield to 0-0-1 to begin the 2026 campaign, giving the Wildcats a shutout in their season opener. 

The 'Cats head to Southern California this weekend to take on a pair of SCIAC opponents in Pomona-Pitzer and Cal Lutheran on Saturday and Sunday.

To follow Linfield Wildcats coverage all season long, visit golinfieldwildcats.com. Please consider following Linfield Athletics on Facebook, and @LinfieldSports on Instagram and X.com. 
 
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