Whitman College Men's Soccer

1996 Season Highlights

Saturday, September 7
Whitman 1, Evergreen State College 1

Rob Tonnsen
Whitman outshot Evergreen State College 11-3 but settled for a 1-1 tie in a non-conference, season-opening game played in Spokane, Wash. Freshman midfielder Rob Tonnsen scored the only Missionary goal early in the second half to tie the score.

New coach Brandt Houston said the Missionaries dominated the game but failed to capitalize on a number of scoring opportunities, including one in which a Whitman shot bounced off the goalpost.

Sunday, September 8
Gonzaga University 5, Whitman 1

It was David vs. Goliath Sunday as the Whitman men dropped a 5-1 decision to NCAA Division I Gonzaga University, an NCAA Division I school, in Spokane, Wash. The Missionaris tallied their only goal late in the game on a shot from sophomore Hollis Erikson. Freshman Rob Tonnsen got the assist. Whitman's John MacKay registered six saves in goal.

The contest pitted Gonzaga coach Einar Thorarinsson against one of his former players, first-year Whitman coach Brandt Houston. Thorarinsson coached earlier at Whitworth, where Houston played collegiately. Houston also served as Thorarinsson's assistant for one season.

Saturday, September 14
Whitman 2, Northwest College 0

Brandon Wright
Playing in the rain on artificial turf in Kirkland, Whitman claimed its first soccer victory of the season with a 2-0 triumph over Northwest College. Sophomore Brandon Wright, who led Whitman in scoring a year ago, tallied both Missionary goals in the second half. After scoring with just 10 minutes remaining on a free kick, Wright struck again five minutes later. His second goal was assisted by freshman Rob Tonnsen.

Goalkeeper John MacKay, a sophomore, picked up his first shutout of the season.

Saturday, September 21
Willamette 2, Whitman 1

Willamette's Trevor Frank scored with less than 10 minutes to play to give Willamette a 2-1 Northwest Conference victory over visiting Whitman. After neither team scored in the first half, Willamette picked up its first goal just two minutes into the second half. Whitman pulled even with 15 minutes left in the game on Mike Zotter's first goal of the season. The goal was unassisted.

Whitman outshot Willamette 13-12 and had one goal disallowed late in the game that would have sent the contest into overtime. Brian Flindt's goal with about three minutes left to play was waved off due to an offsides call. "We were pounding away at their goal at the end of the game," Whitman coach Brandt Houston said. "We were unlucky not to get one."

Sunday, September 22
Whitman 2, Linfield 0

Rebounding from the previous day's disappointing loss at Willamette, Whitman regrouped to post a 2-0 Northwest Conference victory over host Linfield. "We played very well," Whitman coach Brandt Houston said. "Had we played that well against Willamette, we wouldn't have lost that game."

With an assist from Brandon Wright, freshman Rob Tonnsen booted the game's first goal 10 minutes into the second half. Wright added the second goal -- his third of the season -- on a free kick at the 72-minute mark. Whitman outshot Linfield 17-7. John MacKay had three saves in goal to record the shutout.

Saturday, September 28
George Fox 2, Whitman 0

George Fox scored an early goal and held off a sluggish Whitman for a 2-0 Northwest Conference victory on Ankeny Field. "We came out flat at the start and they snuck one in," Whitman coach Brandt Houston said. "From there it seemed like we were playing up hill the rest of the way."

The visitors maintained its 1-0 lead until scoring a second goal with five minutes left in the game, after Whitman began compromising its defense in hopes of getting a game-tying goal.

"It wasn't a very good team effort for us," Whitman coach Brandt Houston said. "We were disorganized. I don't know if it was because of Homecoming Weekend or what, but we didn't act like were in the game, physically or mentally."

George Fox outshot Whitman 20-16, although the Missionaries had their share of scoring opportunities. "We had some great opportunities," Houston said. "We had plenty of chances. It's just a matter of getting the ball in the back of the net. Finishing is art and that's something we obviously have to do."

John MacKay had nine saves in goal for Whitman.

Sunday, September 29
Pacific 4, Whitman 0

Whitman's fortunes plummeted as visiting Pacific Univeristy improved its Northwest Conference record to 3-1 with a 4-0 victory on Ankeny Field. "We played better against Pacific than we did the day before against George Fox," Whitman coach Brandt Houston said. "But Pacific is a good team, probably the best team in our conference."

Houston said Whitman's offense, although producing plenty of scoring opportunities, once again failed to convert. "We had people shooting unmarked from the top of the box. Their keeper also made a huge point-blank save on a shot that could have swung the momentum for us."

Losing two conference games at home wasn't what Houston expected from the weekend. "It was puzzling more than upsetting," he said. "We are definitely a better team than we showed in those two games. We've been through most of the league now and there aren't any teams that are head-and-shoulders better than we are. What we need to do is walk on the field with the expectation that we're going to win the game."

Wednesday, October 2
Whitworth 2, Whitman 0

Whitman raised its level of play from the previous weekend, but it wasn't enough to keep Whitworth from squeezing out a 2-0 Northwest Conference victory on Ankeny Field. The Pirates slipped in its first goal at the 33rd minute of the first half and then got the clincher with 20 minutes left in the second half.

"We played better but we still didn't convert our scoring opportunities," coach Brandt Houston said. Whitworth enjoyed a 16-11 advantage in shots on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Garth Giles had seven saves for Whitman.

Saturday, October 5
Pacific Lutheran 2, Whitman 0

Whitman continued to struggle at the offensive end with a 2-0 Northwest Conference loss at Pacific Lutheran. A penalty kick by John Evermann 10 minutes into the first half gave the Lutes their first goal. With a minute left in the game, Evermann scored again after Whitman had sent most of its defenders forward in hopes of getting a game-tying score.

Whitman failed to score despite mounting some heavy offensive pressure at times. Both teams had 11 shots on goal. Scott Siler's 18-yard blast in the second half was Whitman's best scoring opportunity, but PLU keeper David Gonzalez dove and knocked the ball away. Whitman keeper Garth Giles had three saves on the day.

"We controlled a lot of the play," Whitman coach Brandt Houston said. "We must have had five or six shots around the net. The ball was bouncing around right in front of the goal, and we couldn't get it in. This was a game that could have just as easily gone 3-1 in our favor."

Sunday, October 6
Puget Sound 1, Whitman 0

Whitman's season of frustration continued with a 1-0 Northwest Conference overtime loss at the University of Puget Sound. The host squad got the game-winning goal in the first of the two 15-minute overtime periods, scoring off a rebound shot. UPS, which downed Whitworth 1-0 on Saturday, improved its conference record to 4-2-1.

"They're a good team, but again I thought we controlled the bulk of the play and deserved to win," Whitman coach Brandt Houston said. "Most of our shots were right around the box. We were in tight and close. It was a good game and we played well."

"It was the same kind of game that we've been playing all along," Houston added. "We've had more than our share of chances, but we're having a tough time getting the ball into the net."

Houston said his team looks for a reversal of fortune during the second half of the conference season. "We'll just keep plugging along and hope that we've got all the bad luck out of the way. We get a second shot at everyone, and I still feel confident every time we step on the field. Our guys are creating plenty of chances. We're still putting ourselves into a position to score."

Saturday, October 12
Whitman 3, Linfield 1

Greg Postel
Breaking free from a recent scoring drought, Whitman pinned a 3-1 Northwest Conference loss on Linfield on Ankeny Field. Taking a pass from Hollis Erikson, freshman Rob Tonnsen scored the game's first goal just seven minutes into the contest. After Linfield tied the score at 1-1, Whitman's Greg Postel fired home an unassisted goal to give the Missionaries a 2-1 halftime lead.

Whitman's Mark Csephregy completed the scoring with a goal 20 minutes into the second half. Brandon Wright had the assist. Missionary goalkeeper Garth Giles held Linfield scoreless over the final 80 minutes of the game.

Sunday, October 13
Willamette 4, Whitman 2 (overtime)

Willamette scored twice in the second half of overtime to down Whitman 4-2 in a Northwest Conference game on Ankeny Field. The Bearcats bolted to a 2-0 lead in the first half of regulation play, thanks to a pair of unassisted goals by Chase Jordan. Whitman's Hollis Erikson, assisted by Rob Tonnsen, made the score 2-1 ten minutes into the second half. The Missionaries pulled even and forced overtime when Mike Zotter scored in the 83rd minute of regulation with an assist from Rob Miller.

After a scoreless first half of the 30-minute overtime, Willamette's Matt Wellner gave the visitors a 3-2 lead at the game's 107-minute mark, scoring off a corner kick. Teammate Matt Janssen added an insurance goal, scoring off a penalty kick, in the 118th minute of play.

Whitman outshot Willamette 19-13. Missionary goalie Garth Giles had eight saves.

Sunday, October 16
Whitworth 3, Whitman 1

Whitworth jumped to a 2-0 and held off visiting Whitman down the stretch to post a 3-1 Northwest Conference victory. Whitman's Hollis Erikson scored in the 15th minute of the second half to trim Whitworth's lead to 2-1. But the Pirates scored again 10 minutes later to seal the win.

Whitworth outshot the Missionaries 9-7. Whitman goalie Garth Giles had five saves.

Saturday, October 19
Pacific 3, Whitman 1

With the scored deadlocked at 1-1 early in the game, Pacific blitzed the Whitman net for a pair of quick goals in the 21st minute of play, with the second score coming off a penalty kick. That was it for the scoring as Pacific held on to beat visiting Whitman 3-1. The Missionaries got their only goal when Scott Siler scored at the 19-minute mark of the first half.

Sunday, October 20
George Fox 5, Whitman 2

An early Whitman lead was short-lived as host George Fox bounced back to win 5-2. Steve Preikschat's unassisted goal gave the Missionaries a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute of the first half. But George Fox scored three unanswered goals prior to halftime to take control. Mark Csepreghy got Whitman's second goal late in the second half with an assist from Hollis Erikson.
Steve Preikschat Mark Csepreghy

Saturday, October 26
Whitman 2, Puget Sound 2 (overtime)

Scott Siler
The University of Puget Sound scored in the final minute of regulation against host Whitman to force overtime, which later ended in a 2-2 tie.

Whitman's Scott Siler opened the scoring, booting a goal in the fourth minute of play. He was assisted by Dylan Robertson. Goalie Garth Giles and the Missionary defense made the score stand up until UPS scored in the final minute. Brian Sponsler scored for the Loggers following a flurry off activity in front of the Whitman goal. The shot bounced off the crossbar, came straight down and bounced out on the field of play.

"My players felt the ball didn't cross the line before it bounced back out," Whitman coach Brandt Houston said. "The linesman on that side made the call, but he wasn't on the goalline. The shot itself was a bullet. It was so fast, it was hard to see from any angle."

That UPS scored in the final minute with a disputed goal was "just typical of the way our season has gone this year," Houston said. "My hope is that all the bad breaks that went against us this year will come back around in our favor next season."

Whitman regained the lead, 2-1, in the second minute of overtime. Brandon Wright scored for Missionaries with an assist from Rob Miller. UPS pulled even six minutes when Joe Campbell knocked home a rebound shot. That completed the scoring.

Whitman outshot UPS 20-14. Giles had eight saves in goal for the Missionaries. "Garth had some good saves, and he's had a good season for a freshman," Houston said. "Both of the UPS goals came off deflections off the crossbar. They were good shots."

Sunday, October 27
Pacific Lutheran 1, Whitman 0

Chris Bromley
Pacific Lutheran's Matt Doyle scored with 10 minutes left to play to break a scoreless tie and give the visitors a 1-0 victory over Whitman. PLU outshot the Missionaries 15-7.

"We played good soccer, we just didn't finish as well as we should," Whitman coach Brandt Houston said. "We had our moments of brilliance, like we have all season. What we need to learn is how to play 90 minutes of good, consistent soccer, combining hard-nosed defense with an offense that attacks and finishes. We'll get there. We've got some young talent, and the guys will work hard in the off-season."

Whitman senior Chris Bromley started in goal and finished with six saves.