FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Dominic Gusman's team-leading sixth goal of the season lifted Whitworth University to a 1-0 win over Pacific (Ore.) in a Northwest Conference men's soccer match on Saturday afternoon at Hanson Stadium.
The Pirates (5-2-3 overall, 5-1-3 NWC) earned their fifth shutout win of the season and swept the season series with the Boxers, who fell to 2-7-5, 2-5-4 NWC.
Whitworth scored the game's lone goal in the 22nd minute. Gusman took possession of the ball near the midfield line, raced past a defender down the middle and fired the ball off the top post and across the goal line for his second game-winning score of the season. The Pirate defense again proved to be one of the best in the NWC as they allowed no shots on goal in the first half.
Whitworth held on despite Pacific's stronger offensive second half that held three shots on target and a 4-2 total shot advantage. Goalkeeper Dax Flanders saved each Boxer shot on goal to secure the win. The Bucs nearly scored an insurance goal in the 86th minute after Dom Schauman lobbed a ball into the box that Johny Cortez headed toward the net, but it was tipped just over the goal post.
Both teams finished the match with seven total shots. Whitworth had a 4-3 edge in shots on goal and a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Gusman and Lucas Diaz led the Pirate attack with two shots and one shot on goal each. Flanders earned his third clean sheet of the season.
Caden Matsumoto had all three shots on goal to lead Pacific. Kobi Miyamoto made three saves at goalkeeper.
The Whitworth men wrap up the weekend with a match at Willamette on Sunday.
