SPOKANE, Wash. – Cole Friesen had the breakout game Whitworth was looking for against a Northwest Conference opponent, scoring two goals and adding two assists in a 4-1 win over visiting Lewis & Clark in Saturday's men's soccer contest.
The Pirates improved to 5-3-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the NWC while the Pioneers (0-9, 0-5) continue to search for their first win since reinstating soccer as a varsity sport in 2022.
Friesen came off of the bench for the second straight match and didn't take long to make his presence felt, scoring the first goal in the 26th minute when he cut across the penalty area through the L&C defense and finished to the lower left corner.
He scored his second goal just over five minutes into the second half, beating Pioneer keeper Micaiah Garan from close range off a crossing pass by Johnny Finnegan.
One minute later Friesen got an assist when he tracked down a long pass forward from Dominic Gusman and crossed to Cameron Gardner, who tallied his first goal of the season.
Gusman and Friesen teamed again for a pair of assists in similar fashion, this time Friesen crossed to Clayton Crocket for a headed goal in the 65th minute.
Ishan Abraham scored his second goal of the season for L&C, from an assist by Daniel Estoll, in the 88th minute.
The Pirates outshot the Pioneers 20-6, including a 9-4 edge in shots on-goal. Aidan Chase made three saves in goal for Whitworth before he was replaced by Dax Flanders for the final 6:35 of the match. Garan made four saves to go along with the four goals he allowed for L&C.
Whitworth will look to extend the winning streak to three when the Pirates host Willamette on Sunday.
