TACOMA, Wash. – Visiting Whitworth University fell 2-1 to Puget Sound in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on Saturday afternoon at Baker Stadium.
The Pirates (2-7-2 overall, 0-5-2 NWC) struck first, but the Loggers (5-0-4, 4-0-3 NWC) scored two unanswered second half goals to stay unbeaten in conference play. The 2-1 final score ended a streak of six straight 1-1 draws between the two schools.
Whitworth played a strong first half, controlling the ball early and holding Puget Sound to just one shot in the first 30 minutes of play. That effort resulted in a goal off the foot of Sebastian Alvarez in the 9th minute. Ryland Crane's through ball was cut off by a defender, but his pass back to goalkeeper Mason Allison went awry. Alvarez tracked down the ball and took advantage of the open net for his first career goal.
Alvarez's goal marks the seventh different Pirate play to score a goal this season.
The Loggers turned up the intensity in the second half and answered with a goal in the 56th minute. Jarren Merced's cross to the box was headed into the top of the net by Jackson Smith. It was Smith's sixth goal of the season. Two minutes later, an uncontrolled ball in the box found the foot of Puget Sound's Joel Wallin, who scored the go-ahead goal with a left-footed strike.
In an effort to draw even, Whitworth put the pressure on and drew two corners with ten minutes to play but were ultimately held to one shot on goal in the second half.
The Bucs finished the match with an 11-10 advantage in total shots, though PS proved more efficient with seven attempts on target to Whitworth's two.
Alvarez led the Pirate attack with three shots, one on target. Jaxsen Teeter and Ralph Borromeo each added two shots. Goalkeeper Oliver Hart made two saves.
Smith led all players with five shots and three shots on goal for the Loggers. Allison made one save.
The Whitworth men will look to bounce back at Pacific Lutheran on Sunday at noon.
