News Release Date:
Saturday, October 31

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Senior captain Todd Wallenius booted a pair of goals, including the game winner with less than 10 minutes left to play, to carry the Whitman College men's soccer team to a 2-1 Northwest Conference soccer victory over Linfield Saturday afternoon in McMinnville, Ore.

Todd Wallenius

Linfield scored first, getting an unassisted goal from Travis Isaacs in the 24th minute of the first half.

Wallenius responded with his first goal in the 33rd minute, tapping home a nice crossing pass from freshman Jed Jacobson, who wriggled free from the defense on the right side.

That sent the game to halftime with the score even at 1-1.

"Both Todd and Conner Bottomly also hit the post in the first half, and Chris Reid sent one just over the crossbar," Whitman coach Mike Washington said. "We could have been up 3-1 at halftime instead of tied at 1-1." 

The deadlock continued until the 80:15 mark of the second half, when Wallenius notched his team-leading eighth goal of the season.

Wallenius, who ranks among the NWC leaders in goals scored, collected a loose ball and knocked home the game winner after Bottomly, a junior, bounced a shot off Linfield's keeper. 

"We talked all week about the need to generate more offense, and we did that today," Washington said. "The boys were a bit more assertive, which is what we want to see."

Both teams took 17 shots on the day. For Whitman, Wallenius generated a game-high eight shots.

Bottomly added three shots while freshman Jed Jacobson took two.

Tim Shu, a junior, went the distance as the Whitman keeper, making nine saves. "Tim did a good job in goal today," Washington said.

Whitman, breaking a three-game losing streak, is 3-7-2 in the NWC and 4-10-3 overall.

The Missionaries continues NWC play on Sunday with an 1:30 p.m. match against Willamette in Salem, Ore.

Box score

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CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
509 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu