Willamette Dominates Stats in 2-1 Loss at GFU; Starr Scores 20th Career Goal

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

NEWBERG, Ore. -- For the second consecutive day, the Willamette University Bearcats outshot their opponent but lost on the scoreboard, as George Fox University held on for a 2-1 win on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the Austin Sports Complex. On Sunday, the Bearcats held a 21-5 advantage in total shots and a 10-4 edge in shots on goal. Willamette also owned a 12-2 lead on corner kicks and finished the game with 64% possession. Eugene Peltier of GFU hit a penalty kick early in the contest at the 9:47 mark and teammate Connor Kong broke a 1-1 tie at 72:54.

Willamette's goal against the Bruins was scored by Jett Starr (Sr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) at 41:38 on an assist from Drew Alexander (So., D, San Mateo, CA/Junipero Serra HS), as the Bearcats tied the score before halftime. It was Starr's ninth goal of the season as well as the 20th goal of his career. Starr has scored one goal in nine of the last 12 games for the Bearcats.

On Saturday in Willamette's game at the University of Puget Sound, the Bearcats attained a 26-7 margin in total shots and a slimmer 8-7 edge in shots on goal. The Bearcats also owned a 12-6 advantage in corner kicks and kept possession for 59% of the game. Even so, the Logger won 3-1.

The Bearcats are 6-9-1 overall and 6-6-1 in the NWC. George Fox improved to 5-10-1 on the season, 4-7-1 in the NWC.

Willamette and GFU were scoreless until a foul was called on the Bearcats inside their defensive penalty area. Peltier took the ensuing penalty kick and sent the ball into the center of the goal. Starr's equalizing goal was scored during the run of play on a shot from seven yards, with Starr turning and kicking the ball into the lower left corner. Alexander earned the assist with a header from just inside the right edge of the 18-yard box.

Kong's goal gave the Bruins the lead on a shot from the top left corner of the six-yard box. Joshua Change earned an assist on the play after he slotted a pass around a defender to an on-rushing Kong.

After George Fox moved in front, the Bearcats battled to tie the score. A shot by Krisna LaFrance (Jr., F, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) was saved by GFU goalie Keoni Gavino at 73:48. With less than two minutes to go Gavino also registered a save on another shot by LaFrance.

Gavino accumulated nine saves during the game. WU goalkeeper Pierluca Carnovale (Sr., GK, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS) provided the Bearcats with two saves.

The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Whitman College. Game time in Walla Walla, Washington, is slated for 2:30 p.m. PDT.