SPOKANE, Wash. – Jaxsen Teeter's goal in the 81st minute pulled Whitworth even at 2-2 with visiting Whitman in a back-and-forth Northwest Conference men's soccer battle on Wednesday afternoon at Whitworth Soccer Field.
The Pirates (4-8-3 overall, 2-6-3 NWC) fought back to earn a point in the standings despite allowing a season-high 27 shots. The Blues, who were tied for first place coming into the match, moved to 10-2-3, 8-1-2 NWC.
Whitman's attack capitalized early with the match's first goal in the fifth minute. Riki Kobayashi found Nathan Alvarado in the middle of the box where he netted his fifth goal of the season. The Bucs held off more pressure in the defensive third and countered with a score in the 19th minute. Hunter Lisowski worked the ball up the left side and crossed it to Ryland Crane, who sent a shot toward net that was redirected past the goalkeeper by Colton Depner. It was Depner's first career goal.
Following a very active first half that totaled 11 shots on goal, the Whitman attack kept the action rolling with a go-ahead goal eleven minutes into the second frame. Alvarado sent a cross to the far post where it was headed back middle and punched in by Henry Pierce.
Both teams turned up the intensity as the Blues attempted to protect the lead while the Bucs fought for the equalizer. That effort paid off in the 81st minute as Lisowski pushed the ball down the right side and crossed it to the middle of the box. Teeter connected on a low diving header into the bottom left corner to even the score at two.
Whitman sent five shots toward net in the final seven minutes in an attempt to take the lead. The Pirates got off just one shot in that time frame, though it was a quality one. Lisowski had a one-on-one opportunity in the box with under two minutes to play but sent the potential game-winning shot just over the crossbar.
Aaron O'Byrne led the Whitworth attack with four shots and Teeter added two. All six Pirate shots on goal came from six different players. Oliver Hart made nine saves in the full 90-minute effort.
Kevin Serrano led the Blues with five shots while Alvarado led with three on target. Niclas Isensee made four saves in net.
The Whitworth men will host Pacific (Ore.) on Sunday at noon.
