Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Despite playing a tough, physical match-up Wednesday night against Occidental College, the Whittier College Men's Soccer team couldn't pull off the win as they fell 1-0 at Memorial Stadium.
The Purple & Gold coming off a huge 2-1 win over Chapman University couldn't keep the momentum going as they now drop to 5-7, 4-6 SCIAC.
Liam Walsh provided the eventual game-winner in the 56th minute coming off of a corner kick. Ben Simon took the kick and found Nicolas Eble in the box who sent it over to Walsh who headed it towards Poet keeper Teddy Nickerson (Seattle, WA). Nickerson got his hands on the shot but couldn't hold on as it would get past him for the go-ahead strike.
The Poets looked for the equalizer soon after earning two corner kicks but neither would be rewarding as WC was called offsides both times. The final look for the Purple & Gold came in the 89th minute from freshman Hayden Barnouw (Seattle, WA) who got a head on the ball in the box but his attempt would end up wide allowing Oxy to escape with the win.
Whittier was outshot on the evening 20-10 and was edged on corner kicks 8-7.
Nickerson played all 90:00 minutes posting eight saves in the loss. On offense Whittier was led by Barnouw who finished with three shots, while Jacob Conlon (Placentia, Calif.) and Scott Clark (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) added two apiece.
Whittier has the weekend off before returning to competition next Wednesday, October 17 when they travel to take on the University of La Verne beginning at 7:00pm.
