FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The Bushnell men’s soccer team pulled away late on Sunday evening, taking a 3-1 victory from Pacific University in their first road game of the season.
Danny Rojas scored a brace for the Beacons (1-0-1), giving him three goals in just two games this season, while Walter Reustle added the game-winning goal early in the second half. Bushnell finished the game with 6-5 advantage in shots in what was a strong defensive battle with the Boxers (1-1). The Beacons were just able to better capitalize on their chance as half found the back of the net.
Head Coach Joao Ehlers said, “It was a great performance by the boys. We were able to control the ball for most of the game and score in crucial moments. It is a good result and gives us confidence for our next game.”
The Beacons got on the board first in 24
th minute. A corner-kick attempt was originally saved by the Boxer keeper, but on the ensuing scrum, Javier Gutierrez collected a loose ball and chipped it into the box where Rojas rose with his noggin, punching in the header for the go-ahead strike.
Bushnell took the 1-0 lead into the intermission, but were caught sleeping on the first possession of the second half as the Boxers’ Donovan Jaramillo put the equalizer into the nylon in less than two minutes.
The Beacons were steadfast, and continued to pressure Pacific, eventually taking advantage of a foul to score the eventual game winner. Walter Reustle took the free-kick attempt from 30-yards in the 51
st minute and fired a missile into the dead center of the goal. The Box keeper was able to get his glove on the strike, but it deflected off and into the net.
Bushnell added a little insurance in the 66
th minute. With Brady Housley applying pressure on the Pacific defenders, a bad pass was made in the shallow midfield and Rojas was able to gather the ball from between a pair of Boxers, split the seam and travel 15-yards before firing a ground ball past the outstretched arms of the goalie.
The Beacons will return home next Friday and are set to take on Pacific Union College (0-0) at 2:00 pm at Civic Park.