Raiders continue perfect start against Bushnell
SOU Sports Information
ASHLAND – The Southern Oregon men's soccer team didn't arrive at the second half of its back-to-back against Bushnell any less eager to hunt goals Monday on a frigid afternoon at Raider Stadium.
The Raider attack never let up in a 3-0 win, and Bushnell never got comfortable while enduring a second straight shutout loss. A day after out-shooting the Beacons 29-4, SOU fired 24 shots and allowed only six.
Sam Walker, Izaiha Bruce and Alan Gaytan deposited goals and brought the Raiders to 2-0 entering the next part of their eight-game Cascade Conference schedule, another back-to-back at home against Warner Pacific.
After scoring the go-ahead goal in Sunday's 2-0 win on Gaytan's penalty kick that was the result of a Bushnell red card, the Raiders continued to pounce on mistakes in their second outing. Less than three minutes in, Gaytan slid behind the defense on a throw-in down the left side and when he reached the end line crossed to Walker, who slid in for a 10-yard strike.
In the 29th minute, Junior Rivas placed a free kick into the box that deflected off a Beacons defender and landed with Bruce for a chance that he converted.
Gaytan punched in his second goal of the series nine minutes into the second half with an assist paid back by Walker.
Raider keeper Liam Kalhagen made eight saves over the first 79 minutes of the contest, and reserve Anthony Armenta took over for the final 11.
In their last 10 conference games dating back to last season, the Raiders are 9-0-1. They have six wins and a tie in the all-time series against Bushnell, which was formerly known as Northwest Christian.
The Beacons fell to 0-6 overall and 0-4 in the CCC. They've yet to tally a conference goal.
Gaytan, a sophomore from Troutdale, now has eight goals and four assists in 21 career games. Walker, a sophomore from Scotland, owns seven goals and seven assists in the same time.
SOU's remaining back-to-backs are against West Division foes Warner Pacific, Oregon Tech and 16th-ranked Corban, which is sitting at 4-0. Because the teams will plan an uneven number of games, the division champion – and recipient of one of the CCC's two automatic national tournament bids – will be decided by win percentage.