PORTLAND, Ore. — Lewis & Clark College men's soccer battled through a driving downpour Sunday afternoon to produce its most explosive offensive performance since returning to varsity play. The Pioneers erased a three-goal deficit and earned a 4-4 draw against Linfield University in Northwest Conference action at Griswold Stadium.
THE BASICS
Lewis & Clark 4, Linfield 4
(Lewis & Clark 0-10-2, 0-7-1 NWC)
(Linfield 1-9-2, 1-6-2 NWC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Persistent rain and quick goals marked the opening minutes. Linfield jumped in front in the fifth minute when Ross Vargo turned and placed a low shot into the near corner. The Wildcats doubled their advantage ten minutes later as Julian Lara-Martinez sent a 20-yard drive skidding inside the far post. Derek Rowe added a third in the 21st minute on a rebound finish at the near side after goalkeeper
Micaiah Garan's initial save at the crossbar.
Lewis & Clark junior
Dylan Weinstein tried to answer minutes later with a shot from the top of the box that Linfield keeper Colby Reese saved in the 24th minute.
The Pioneers broke through in the 32nd minute. Senior midfielder
Ben Schwartz redirected a free kick from Weinstein into the lower corner to trim the deficit to 3-1. Linfield responded quickly as Lara-Martinez netted his second goal three minutes later, sending a shot from the left side into the top corner for a 4-1 halftime lead.
The second half belonged to Lewis & Clark. Sophomore
Sam London converted a penalty kick in the 47th minute to ignite the comeback. Three minutes later, London had another attempt stopped by Reese in the 50th. Senior
Aashir Walson followed with a close-range shot on the near side that Reese smothered.
The Pioneers maintained pressure through the downpour, controlling possession and forcing Linfield deep into its own half. Despite a red card in the 54th minute that left Lewis & Clark a player down, the hosts continued to attack relentlessly.
Schwartz helped create the next goal in the 73rd minute. The senior flicked a throw-in forward near midfield to free sophomore forward
Alex Woods down the right flank. Woods sprinted onto the ball, cut toward goal and fired a 17-yard shot to make it 4-3. It marked the first career goal for Wood and the first career assist for Schwartz.
The equalizer arrived in the 79th minute when sophomore back
Aleister Alfstad sent a long free kick from midfield into the box. The ball glanced off Linfield's Anderson Kelly's head and into the net for an own goal. Despite heavy rain and late pressure from both sides, Garan organized the back line and preserved the result as time expired.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 2: London has converted both of the Pioneers' penalty kicks this season.
- 3: Schwartz tallied a goal and an assist in the same game for the first time in his career.
- 3: The Pioneers have reached multiple goals only three other times since their return to varsity status (vs. Northwest and Whitman this season; vs. Willamette in 2023).
- 4: Lewis & Clark scored four times, its highest total since the program's new era.
- 5: Five Pioneers recorded a shot on target: London (2), Schwartz, Walson, Weinstein and Woods.
- 12: Lewis & Clark outshot Linfield 12-10 and generated 10 scoring chances after halftime.
- 55 percent: The Pioneers maintained 55 percent possession despite playing a man down for the final 36 minutes.
- 65: Garan leads the Northwest Conference in total saves and saves per game (5.91) this season.
WHO'S NEXT
Lewis & Clark continues its three-game homestand Saturday, hosting the University of Puget Sound Loggers at 2:45 p.m. in Northwest Conference play.
