By Charles Bauman
GAME 1
This past Saturday, the men’s soccer team took on the Linfield Wildcats in a wet and wild game. As the Lutes, ranked sixth in the country, kicked the game off, the torrential downpour consumed the field. This weather lasted the entire game, which had a part in the final outcome of a 0-0 tie after 110 minutes.
The Lutes possessed the ball for the majority of the game, taking 19 shots to Linfield’s 13. Goalkeeper Joe Rayburn, a senior, saved six shots while Linfield’s keeper tallied six saves as well. First-year Rigoberto Loreto had three shots on goal. First-year Diego Aceves, senior Derek Johnson and sophomore Bryan Anderson each had one shot on goal.
PLU had several chances at the end of the second overtime to score, but Linfield’s defense proved to be too tough as the Lutes could not capitalize. On Sunday, the Lutes take on Willamette, which is looking to improve to 8-0-2. PLU remains unbeaten at 7-0-2, while Linfield falls to 3-3-1.
GAME 2
On Sunday, the Lutes squared off against Willamette. This game was another nail-biter, as both teams couldn’t score a goal through the first 87 minutes. Then in the 88th minute, things swung in favor of Pacific Lutheran University.
Derek Johnson, a senior, scored on an assist from first-year Rigoberto Loreto. Just as the game looked like it was to be the Lutes’ seventh shutout in 10 games, Willamette scored with just under 20 seconds left. The Lutes and Bearcats played through the first overtime to no avail.
With three minutes left in the second and final overtime, Johnson scored his second goal of the game off of Loreto’s second assist.
The win boosts the Lutes’ record to 8-0-2, while Willamette falls to 5-3-1. PLU takes on Whitworth on Saturday and Whitman on Sunday.
