Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. --- Ryan Luke found the back of the net twice to give Portland a two-goal lead over Gonzaga, but the Bulldogs battled back to force a 2-2 draw with the Pilots in a West Coast Conference men’s soccer game on Wednesday afternoon at Gonzaga Soccer Field. The Pilots nearly tallied the game-winner twice during the second overtime, but GU keeper Scott Barnum came up with two clutch saves.
In the opening minutes of the second extra period, Portland freshman Joe Sleven unleashed a wicked shot on a free kick from about 30 yards out. The shot appeared headed for the top shelf before Barnum somehow made a diving, one-handed save to punch the ball over the cross bar.
Then in the 104th minute, Luke had a chance at a hat trick after being fed a pass right in front of the net. With a defender on his hip, Luke re-directed the pass towards the GU goal. But once again Barnum was there to make a game-saving stop.
The Bulldogs had a couple of chances at the other end following Portland’s two good looks, but UP junior goalkeeper Austin Guerrero was able to make a pair of saves to preserve the tie.
The Pilots even their WCC record at 2-2-2, while moving their overall mark to 7-3-3. GU is now 5-5-3 and 2-3-1 in the conference.
Luke scored his first goal with four minutes remaining in the first half, giving Portland a 1-0 lead at the break. On a give-and-go play, freshman Marc Tonkel fed senior Collen Warner near the right end-line. Warner then found Luke just in front of the Gonzaga net, where he was able to finish into the right corner. Warner and Tonkel both picked up an assist on the play.
In the 56th minute, Luke notched his second goal of the game and third on the season. After a shot from Tonkel was sent into the air, a composed Luke side-volleyed the ball into the right side of the netting to give UP a 2-0 lead.
But the Bulldogs responded quickly to cut the lead in half only four minutes later. On a corner kick in the 60th the minute, Nike Love drilled a powerful header from the left side of the box inside the far post to make it a 2-1 Portland lead.
Zach Smith then found the equalizer in the 66th minute. After Ben Funkhouser set up Tye Perdido with a through ball, Perdido sent a perfect feed from the left wing to Smith right in front of the goal. Smith finished with a one-timer into the left corner.
Portland attempted 24 shots on the day, while Gonzaga countered with 21. UP also held a 10-8 edge in shots on-goal and an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Guerrero made six saves and Barnum had eight.
The Pilots and Bulldogs will next head to Portland for a game on Sunday at Merlo Field. Kick off is set for 2:30 p.m. and will be preceded by a UP women’s soccer match against San Francisco, which is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
