WPC Knights Down Northwest 4-2
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Warner Pacific men’s soccer team defeated the Northwest University Eagles 4-2 Tuesday night, with goals coming from Davor Lukic, Even Lehner, Alija Sacirovic and Luis Galvan. The Knights move to 10-5 (6-3 Cascade Collegiate Conference) on the season while Northwest drops to 5-8-2 (3-6 CCC).
The offensive fireworks came early and often, with both teams playing a fast-paced and open style of soccer. The Knights went on top 1-0 in the 18th minute when Lukic scored his team-leading 10th goal off an assist from Galvan. Galvan sent a cross to Lukic toward the right side of the box, and after a touch Lukic curled a hard shot past Eagles keeper Kyle Wall. Galvan has a team-high eight assists on the year.
Northwest University nearly tied the game midway through the half when a shot by Nathan Murphy hit the post. The pipes were friendly to the Knights all night long, as two Eagles shots in the second half hit the crossbar.
The Knights made it 2-0 in dramatic fashion with freshman Evan Lehner found the back of the net with just 23 seconds remaining in the first half. After receiving a pass from Jacob Jackson, Lehner chipped the ball into the air past the Eagles defense, recovered the ball, and tapped it into an empty net from five yards out.
Northwest University cut the lead to 2-1 three minutes into the second half on a goal by Luke Fischer, who finished a one-v-one against Knights keeper Ted Latta after Brandon Screen fed him a nice through ball. But the Knights responded to take a 3-1 with a beautiful goal in the 60th minute. Senior Chris Price sent a perfect cross from the right side which Sacorivic expertly finished with a volley.
The Eagles would not go quietly, however, as they trimmed the lead to one once again after Screen sent in a blast from 15 yards out that Latta had no chance on.
Warner Pacific finally put the Eagles away for good just two minutes after the lead was cut to 3-2 when Galvan made a brilliant individual effort, making a long run into the box, juking several defenders, and slotting a shot into the net.
For the game, the Knights had 23 shots to 16 for Northwest University, with Price recording a game-high six shots.
The Knights return to action on Friday, October 24 when they face Oregon Tech in their final home game of the season. The game will be played at Gladstone High School at 4 p.m.