Jensen's Hat Trick Sends Willamette to Double Overtime Win over Linfield, 3-2

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Trevor Jensen (Sr., MF, Chula Vista, CA/Bonita Vista HS) of Willamette University recorded a hat trick, including the game-winning goal on a penalty kick with 21 seconds left in the second overtime, as the Bearcats defeated archrival Linfield College, 3-2, on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Willamette won its final game of the season to improve to 10-6-3 overall, 6-5-3 in the Northwest Conference. Linfield fell to 8-9-1 overall, 5-8-1 in the NWC.

Jensen scored his first two goals of the game in less than a minute, hitting the net at 31:48 on a long shot and at 32:39 on a penalty kick.

Overall, the teams combined to take three penalty kicks during the Northwest Conference battle.

Despite the final score, the first 25 minutes were scoreless .. and then a scoring frenzy followed.

Linfield recorded the game's first goal on a penalty kick at 25:58. Jake Baker took the kick and scored his fourth goal of the season.

Jensen opened his own account less than six minutes later with a lengthy strike into the net. Just 51 seconds after tying the game, Jensen put Willamette in front 2-1 with the first of his two penalty kicks.

The Bearcats continue to hold a one-goal advantage until Domenico Del Prete scored at 41:36. The shot was deflected by the fingers of WU goalie Braydon Calder (So., GK, Philomath, OR/Philomath HS), but the ball rolled across the goal line.

The game was tied 2-2 at halftime, and neither team scored again until the winning shot by Jensen at 109:37.

Linfield, which outshot WU 10-8 in the first half, achieved a 12-9 offensive advantage in the second half, but each team placed three shots on goal. Calder saved all three of Linfield's shots in the second half, but the Wildcats almost scored twice, as Del Prete hit a post at 70:43 and Baker sent the ball into a post at 84:44.

After Bakers' shot, Del Prete sent a follow shot wide of the goal. Jensen took shots for WU at 85:51 and 88:41, but the first shot went wide and the second shot was high. Ivan Colin of Linfield registered the final shot of regulation, but the ball went wide of the target.

Although Linfield owned a 22-17 advantage in total shots over the first 90 minutes, it was Willamette that dominated the stats during the two overtime periods. The Bearcats amassed five shots in each extra session, while the Wildcats had not shots in the first overtime and just one shot in the second overtime.

Grant Loriaux, who entered the goal at halftime for Linfield, achieved three saves in the second half and added three more in overtime.

He stopped a shot by Yazan Hishmeh (So., F, Ventura, CA/Saint Bonaventure HS) only 20 seconds into the first overtime and kept out a shot by Ethan Tait (So., MF, Turlock, CA/Turlock HS) at 94:50. He later added a save on a shot by Jensen in the second overtime at 103:29.

Willamette earned two corner kicks and took two shots in the 58 seconds prior to Jensen's winning kick. The shots by Adan Vazquez (Sr., F, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) and Tait went high, but following a foul by Linfield in the penalty area, Jensen hit the net from the penalty spot.

The Bearcats finished the game with a 27-23 edge in total shots and an 11-9 margin in shots on goal. WU also gained an 11-1 advantage in corner kicks, including 10-0 after halftime. Jensen took eight shots with five on target. Tait provided five shots and Hishmeh earned four. Del Prete blasted seven shots -- four on goal -- for Linfield.

Calder amassed seven saves for Willamette. Loriaux was credited with six saves in the final 64:39 for Linfield, while starting goalie Jorge Rodriguez made two saves.

The match featured seven yellow cards. Four of the cards were issued to Wildcats players Baker, Colin, Del Prete and Chris Musser, while one card went to the Linfield bench. Bearcats Sam Adelman (So., D, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS) and Eric Spresser (Jr., D, Pleasant Hill, OR/Pleasant Hill HS) also earned cautions.

Although Linfield had more cautions, the Bearcats committed more fouls, with 22 compared to 11 by the Wildcats.

Willamette's record of 10-6-3 (.605) is the best winning percentage by the Bearcats since the 1991 team finished 13-6-2 (.667). In addition, the Bearcats have achieved back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1993 (9-8-1) and 1994 (8-6-1). Last year, Willamette attained a 10-7-2 record.