Loggers exact measure of revenge

November 02, 2008

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - A fiery beginning led to a physical, cagey match in which Puget Sound came from behind to defeat Linfield 2-1 Sunday afternoon in a meeting of two longtime Northwest Conference soccer rivals. All three goals came in the first half, including two in the first five minutes.

The Loggers avenged their one-goal loss to the Wildcats Oct. 4 in Tacoma, Wash.

UPS (9-7-2, 7-4-2 NWC) took the opening lead less than a minute into the match off a header from Taylor Hyde. A quick break down the left side led to a crossing pass from Cole Peterson which Hyde connected. As Linfield goalkeeper Jon Thompson (Jr., Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) went to smother the danger, the ball squirmed between his legs and into the net.

Linfield responded in the best way four minutes later. Kurtis Wong (Sr., Lake Forest Park, Wash.) attempted an acrobatic bicycle kick off a Colin Bebee (Jr., Duvall, Wash.) cross. Puget Sound goalie Greg Saetrum got a hand on the shot, pushing the ball to the crossbar. Michel Camacho (Jr., Vancouver, Wash.) was positioned at the far post, where he let the ball bounce once before unleashing a laser half-volley into the upper-left corner to tie the contest at 1.

The Wildcats wouldn’t let off the gas once they got started offensively, setting up three opportunities in a three-minute span. Wong sent in a cross for Kyle Wallace in the sixth minute, but the ball was just out of Wallace’s reach and went behind for a goal kick. One minute later, Roland Mason connected with a Camacho corner kick, but his header was cleared off the line.

A scramble in the box gave the Loggers an opportunistic lead in the 35th minute. Alex Lehecka provided a cross from the right side and as the ball bobbled around inside the 18-yard box, Kyle Benson was able to prod the ball into the net.

Camacho nearly got his second of the game eight minutes into the second half. Collecting a pass from Carter Elhabbassi (Jr., West Linn, Ore.) at the top of the box, Camacho turned and whipped a bending left-footed shot that skimmed off the top of the crossbar.

Elhabbassi had a decent chance from 35 yards out, but while his shot looked promising, it sailed wide of the left post on 71 minutes.

The Loggers responded with a good opportunity two minutes later. Daniel Lee was free at the far post but rolled his first-time shot wide of the far post.

Travis Isaacs (Sr., Damascus, Ore.) came closest to equalizing with six minutes left in regulation. Wallace led him with a chip, and while Saetrum was stranded, the keeper was able to get just enough on the ball to tip it wide of goal.

Linfield outshot the Loggers 22-5, but only 13 were on goal. Thompson made one save while Saetrum made 12.

NEXT: The Wildcats (8-9, 4-8 NWC) head to Salem Wednesday to battle Willamette at 7 p.m. The regular season concludes Friday night in Tacoma, Wash., where Linfield faces Pacific Lutheran.

Michel Camacho
Scores third goal of season