Mason's goal stands up

October 26, 2008

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Roland Mason stepped up with his first goal of the season to lead Linfield to a 1-0 Northwest Conference triumph over Pacific Sunday night. Tempers and physicality controlled the pace of the game in the hotly contested match.

Linfield (7-8, 3-7 NWC) snapped a three-match losing skid at the same time snipping the Boxers’ four-game (3-0-1) unbeaten string.

Pacific (8-4-4, 4-2-4 NWC) nearly snatched the lead 10 minutes into the match after starting Linfield goalie Jon Thompson (Jr., Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) spilled a ball into the path of Brandon Porter, but Spencer Winter was positioned on the goalline to clear the shot.

Carter Elhabbassi (Jr., West Linn, Ore.) challenged Pacific goalie Andrew Stevermer at the 30-minute mark with a low shot from 26 yards out. Though Stevermer couldn’t hold onto the shot, no Wildcats were there to poke the rebound home.

Pacific’s Michael Iacolucci found the best opportunity of the half at his feet in the 37th minute. After being sent a free kick down the right side, Thompson came out to close the shooting angles and Iacolucci rolled his shot past the sliding keeper, but it trickled beyond the far post.

A long throw-in from the right side nearly paid dividends for the Boxers early in the second half when Travis Birrell rose for a near-post header, but Thompson was able to make the grab.

Iacolucci once again was on the end of a good opportunity with 30 minutes left. A flicked ball sent him into the box, and after Wildcats defender Zach Farrington (Soph., Juneau, Alaska) had slipped, Iacolucci had only Thompson to beat, but his shot sailed wide of the near post.

Linfield broke on the counter attack in the 65th minute with a glorious opportunity. Kyle Wallace sped down the left flank before launching an enticing cross into the path of Michel Camacho (Jr., Vancouver, Wash.), but Camacho’s shot thundered back off the post.

The Wildcats ended the deadlock in the 80th minute, despite being outshot the entire game. Colin Bebee (Jr., Duvall, Wash.) stepped up for a free-kick from 35 yards out and his low drive ricocheted off both posts before being poked home by Mason.

Winter was the savior for Linfield in the dying minutes as two Boxers were free at the far-post with the ball at their feet, but the defender quickly cleared the ball off the line.

The Boxers outshot Linfield 16-6. Thompson made eight saves and Stevermer made three.

NEXT: The Wildcats are home for their next two matches. Saturday, Linfield battles county rival George Fox before Puget Sound pays a visit on Sunday.

Roland Mason
Bags third career goal