OSU Men’s Soccer Pounds Trinity Western, 5-1, in Exhibition Game

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CORVALLIS - Junior forward Nick Webb had three goals and an assist to lead the Oregon State men’s soccer team to a 5-1 victory over Trinity Western in an exhibition game at Lorenz Field on Friday night.

“I think there’s been a following through with what we’ve been teaching,” OSU Coach Dana Taylor said. “I was pleased with the energy the guys brought tonight. The guys capitalized on our opponents’ mistakes.”

OSU got the scoring going early, as freshman Justin Woodward (Corvallis, Ore./Corvallis HS) ran down the right side with the ball, then passed it back into the middle for a wide-open Webb (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum HS/Western Washington), who slotted it home in the 10th minute.

Webb scored his second a little more than 10 minutes later. A great series of passing in the attacking end helped set up the goal, ending with sophomore Ryan Callahan (Lafayette, Calif./Acalanes HS) passing to Webb, who scored on a well-placed shot from 20 yards out in the 21st minute.

The Webb twins combined for OSU’s third goal, as freshman Jordan Harris passed to Nick Webb, who sent it over to brother Mason Webb (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum HS), who scored from the top of the box in the 29th minute to give the Beavers a 3-0 lead.

Just before halftime, Trinity Western got on the board. Sophomore forward Nathan Pogue outbattled an OSU defender to win the ball near the left post, and he poked it into the net to pull a goal back for the Spartans in the 43rd minute.

Nick Webb got his hat trick in the 60th minute. Sophomore Josh Cameron (Gresham, Ore./Centennial HS) sent a high, long ball up the left side. Webb timed the ball’s bounce at the top of the box better than Trinity Western’s defender, and it gave him a one-on-one with the Spartan goalkeeper. He dribbled around the keeper and had an easy shot into the open net.

“We came in really fit and strong,” Nick Webb said. “The team chemistry is the best it has ever been.”

OSU scored its fifth and final goal in the 78th minute. Sophomore Collin Foster (Hillsboro, Ore./Jesuit HS) sent in a corner kick from the left side, and it found redshirt freshman Sean Tripi (Hillsboro, Ore./Century HS) in the middle of the box, who one-timed it home.

The Beavers rested a few of their likely starters, including senior forward Robbie Findley, junior midfielder Brett Gardner and sophomore defender Joey Loreth.

“We have quite a few injuries that we need to heal from before our next game,” Taylor said.

Still, the depth of the Beavers prevailed, as they used 21 players and were able to keep a majority of the possession en route to outshooting the Spartans, 20-6.

OSU’s regular season begins next weekend as the Beavers host the four-team OSU Diadora Classic. The Beavers face UC Riverside on Friday, Aug. 25th, and Sacramento State on Saturday, Aug. 26th.

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