SALEM, Ore. — Lewis & Clark College men's soccer battled through a tight Northwest Conference contest on Saturday afternoon, falling 1-0 to Willamette University at Sparks Field. The Bearcats found the difference in the 79th minute, breaking through against a determined defensive effort from the Pioneers.
THE BASICS
Willamette 1, Lewis & Clark 0
(Lewis & Clark 0-10-1, 0-7-0 NWC)
(Willamette 2-5-5, 2-2-4 NWC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Goalkeeper
Micaiah Garan kept Lewis & Clark level for more than 78 minutes with another strong outing between the posts. The junior finished with eight saves on 22 Willamette shots, helping the Pioneers hold firm through a first half in which the hosts generated 10 attempts and four corner kicks.
Lewis & Clark absorbed early pressure and created a handful of chances of its own. Senior
Ishan Abraham sent the team's first look high in the fifth minute, and first-year
Raff Ladd fired a pair of shots that were blocked by Bearcat defenders. The Pioneers earned their lone corner kick in the 15th minute but were unable to capitalize before the half ended scoreless.
In the second half, Garan continued to anchor the defense, stopping five more shots to keep the score even. Senior
Ben Schwartz, sophomore
Emmett Olson and first-year
Parker Mills played heavy minutes on the back line, limiting Willamette's clean looks despite steady pressure.
The Bearcats finally broke through in the 79th minute, when Paddy Bell scored from inside the box. Garan made one more save late, and the Pioneers pressed forward in search of an equalizer but could not find the target before time expired.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 1 – Lewis & Clark limited Willamette to one goal on nine shots on target.
- 4 – The Pioneers finished with four total shots, including two from Ladd.
- 8 – The contest marked the fourth one-goal game of the season for the Pioneers and the eighth since the program's restart.
- 8 – Micaiah Garan recorded eight saves for his fourth game this season with at least seven stops.
WHO'S NEXT
Lewis & Clark returns home Sunday to host Linfield University at 2:45 p.m. The game opens a three-game homestand and wraps up the first half of Northwest Conference play.
