Jensen Hat Trick Sends Bearcats to Double Overtime Win against Linfield

By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

SALEM, ORE. -- Every year since 2009, Willamette University and Linfield College have faced off on the final day of the Northwest Conference men's soccer season. Four times out of five, the Bearcats have come away victorious, with three of those victories coming by a single goal and two coming in overtime.

But any future games between Willamette and its longtime archrival will have a tough time living up to the 2013 match between the two squads, and any future Bearcat will face a nearly impossible task in surpassing the performance turned in during that match by senior midfielder Trevor Jensen.

In a tense, physical, thrilling game that featured seven yellow cards, five goals and three penalty kicks, Jensen's hat trick -- including the game-winning goal with 21 seconds left in the second overtime -- propelled the Bearcats to a 3-2, double-overtime victory over the Wildcats in McMinnville.

After Linfield opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 26th minute, Jensen hit back six minutes later with two goals in less than a minute of play, giving Willamette a 2-1 lead on a PK at 32:39.

Just nine minutes later, however, the Wildcats knotted the score, and neither team scored again until the 110th minute.

Though the Bearcats owned a 10-1 advantage in shots during the overtime period, the match appeared destined for a draw. But Willamette continued to press, and when Jensen was tripped up making a move toward goal, the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

With just 21 seconds left on the clock, Jensen capped his terrific Willamette career by calmly slotting home the game-winner, sending Bearcat fans storming onto the field in celebration.

After the season, Jensen was selected First Team All-NWC and Third Team All-West Region, and became the first Willamette men's soccer player to sign a professional contract when he joined the Kitsap Pumas of the USL Premier Development League. He holds the Bearcats' all-time record with 18 career assists, and tied WU's single-season assists record in 2012 with eight.

But even more than those records, Jensen's hat trick and cool finish under pressure in the ultimate game of his career will be a "Great Moment" that fans of Bearcat soccer won't soon forget.