Sept. 30, 2007

Bjorgo’s Late Goal Lifts Lutes Past Whitman, 1-0

Jason Bjorgo - nets match winner

Box Score

PARKLAND, Wash. – After numerous attacks on Whitman goalkeeper Brett Axelrod had gone wanting for most of the match, Pacific Lutheran broke through on Jason Bjorgo’s goal in the 83rd minute as the Lutes garnered a 1-0 Northwest Conference men’s soccer win on Sunday afternoon.

Bjorgo’s goal came at the end of a nice sequence started by Michael Ferguson, whom Axelrod had frustrated throughout the rainy and cold afternoon. Ferguson knocked a ball into space on the right wing for Erik Gracey, who hit a low cross through the goal area. Bjorgo came in from the left wing and struck the shot back across the goal mouth and into the net.

That was the only time that the Lutes had Axelrod’s number all day as the Whitman keeper was called upon to make eight saves. Pacific Lutheran took 14 total shots and put nine of them on goal, with Ferguson amassing eight shots with four on goal. Axelrod denied Ferguson with three excellent first half saves, but his best save came late in the game when he dove to his right to knock Derek Karamatic’s first-time volley just past the far post.

Whitman’s best scoring chance came in the second half when Craig Yuen’s free kick from just outside the area was snatched by PLU goalkeeper Daniel Mangum, one of his three saves. The Missionaries finished the match with six total shots.

With the victory, Pacific Lutheran improves to 5-5 overall and 3-1 in the Northwest Conference. Whitman is now 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the conference.

The Lutes return to action at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, when they host Willamette in a Northwest Conference match. Whitman also plays its next match on Oct. 6 when it travels to Spokane to battle Whitworth.

- PLU -