Ernie Samora
Contributing Writer
It’s a great day to be a Bearcat!
It has been a phenomenal season for Willamette Men’s Soccer. After an electric victory against the Linfield Wildcats in McMinnville, Men’s Soccer has officially won the Northwest Conference! The Bearcats brought an explosive energy to the field, ending with a final score of 5-0. Men’s Soccer is also currently ranked #25 in the NCAA DIII National Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
15 Bearcats have scored at least one goal, for a total of 49 in the season. Pierce Gallaway (‘23) leads with an impressive 11 goals and six assists. Goalkeeper Pierluca Carnovale (‘24) ended the season with an astonishing 48 saves.
The team worked hard for their victory. They began their training during their offseason. The start of their season marked weekly 6 a.m. training, sometimes in the cold and rain. Their determination and unparalleled amount of time training makes their victory even sweeter. “Winning the conference was an absolutely surreal feeling,” Carnovale said. “Our coaches and senior class really deserve this.”
Carnovale also wanted to show appreciation to the fans who supported them. “Shout-out to everyone who came to a match or streamed an away game, we couldn’t have done it without you.”
If you see any of the soccer players around campus, be sure to tell them congratulations and be sure to support them this Saturday as they play Wisconsin Platteville in Chicago at the national tournament!