La Verne Edges Bearcats on Goal with 1:05 Left in Second Half

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- University of La Verne defeated Willamette University, 2-1, on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Sparks Field, as Jaime Moreno scored on a 9-yard shot with 1:05 remaining to keep the game from going to overtime. La Verne, playing its second game in as many nights, improved to 2-0. Willamette playing its season opener, fell to 0-1.

Moreno received a short pass about 11 yards out and a bit to the left of the goal.  He moved forward with one touch and then shot the ball into the lower right corner of the net. Nathan Gonzalez was credited with an assist.

Jesse Thompson (Sr., F, Santa Ynez, CA/Santa Ynez HS) of Willamette started the scoring with a goal for the Bearcats at 32:26. The play began when a long pass by Jack Elton (Jr., D, Corte Madera, CA/Redwood HS) went from just inside the attacking half of the field into the penalty area.

Yazan Hishmeh (Sr., F, Ventura, CA/Saint Bonaventure HS) flicked the ball from about 13 yards out as La Verne's starting goalkeeper, Gerardo Vazquez charged out on the play. Thompson ran onto the ball and shot from five yards into the empty net.

La Verne equalized the score on a corner kick late in the half. Irra Humberto earned the goal at 39:36 on a diving header from eight yards after Moreno took the corner kick. The teams remained tied 1-1 at halftime.

Each team took five shots in the first half with two shots on goal. La Verne outshot Willamette 6-4 in the second half, including 3-1 in shots on goal.

Despite suffering the loss, WU goalkeeper Josh Fuentes (Jr., GK, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) finished with three saves, including a pair of quality stops.

In the first half, Fuentes recorded a save at 18:51 during a one-on-one opportunity for midfielder Justin Funes. Later, at 69:30 in the second half, Fuentes was positioned well to grab a well-struck free kick from 27 yards by Saul Uribe.

Darrin Bangle, who played the final 45 minutes in goal for La Verne, picked up the win and improved to 1-0 on the season.

The teams combined for 31 fouls and five yellow cards. Willamette had 18 fouls, while ULV committed 13 infractions.

Yellows cards were issued to Matt Bauer (Sr., D, Seattle, WA/Seattle Preparatory School), Sam Adelman (Sr., D, Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande HS) and Tyler Yates (Jr., F, Kailua-Kona, HI/Kealakehe HS) of Willamette. Funes and Auden Foxe received yellows for La Verne.

The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 5 with the second game in their seven-game, season-opening homestand. Willamette's opponent on Saturday is Southwestern University (Texas). Game time is set for 7 p.m. (PDT).