Carballo and Palhetas Each Score Two Goals as Bearcats Rout Bruins, 6-0

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Lucas Carballo (Fy., F, Riverside, CA/Bloomington HS) scored two goals and two assists for Willamette University and teammate Tiago Palhetas (Fy., M/F, Mississauga, ON, Canada/Our Lady of Mount Carmel) registered two goals and one assist to lead the Bearcats in a 6-0 rout of George Fox University at Sparks Field on Sunday, Sept. 24. Willamette scored all six goals in just under 42 minutes at the start of the game.

Also scoring a goal for Willamette were Jett Starr (Sr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) and Drew Alexander (So., D, San Mateo, CA/Junipero Serra HS).

The Bearcats advanced their record to 3-4-0 overall and to 3-0-0 in the Northwest Conference. George Fox fell to 2-4-1 this year, including 1-2-1 in the NWC.

It took just over 16 minutes for the Bearcats to build a 3-0 advantage. Carballo scored the first two goals, starting with a 10-yard shot into the lower left corner after a shot by Palhetas was saved by GFU goalie Keoni Gavino. Carballo hit the net again at 15:32 on an assist from Fernando Bitelli (Sr., F/M, Sao Paulo, Brazil/Roseburg HS, Ore.). The shot was from 18 yards into the lower left corner. Just 47 seconds later at 16:19, Palheta scored an unassisted goal with a powerful shot from the upper right corner of the 18-yard box into the top of the goal.

Palhetas created additional cheers from the home crowd when he scored his second goal at 29:17. He was just outside the right post and eight yards away when he shot, sending the ball across the goal line near the left post. Assists on the play went to Bitelli and Carballo.

Willamette's lead reached 5-0 at 33:08 on Starr's goal. He scored on a 6-yard shot after his nearly-identical first shot was saved by Gavino. Although the two shots by Starr prevented an assist from being awarded, the goal was set up by a cross from the right side by Alexander.

The game's final goal was created by a strong sequence for the Bearcats. Carballo began the play with a header to Luke Varav (Jr., M/F, Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park HS) near the top of the penalty area. Varav passed the ball to Alexander, who was surging into the 18-yard box. Alexander scored on a shot from 6 yards near the left post as the ball crossed the middle of the middle of the goal line.

For the game, Willamette held an 18-9 margin in total shots, including a 12-5 advantage in shots on target. WU goalkeepers Ibrahm Garza (So., Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) and Ben McDonald (Fy., Portland, OR/Grant HS) combined for the shutout, with Garza playing the first 62:38 and picking up the win. Garza earned three saves while McDonald registered two. Both goalies had an impressive save, as Garza made a diving stop on a shot by Santiago Munevar at 60:25, and McDonald pushed a strong shot by Andrew Turner over the crossbar at 85:30. Gavino earned six saves for GFU.

Palhetas topped all players with five total shots. He also tied Carballo for the game lead with three shots on goal.

Willamette is scheduled to take on Whitworth University on Saturday, Sept. 30 in Salem, Oregon. Game time at Sparks Field is set for 2:30 p.m. PDT.