In a thrilling men's soccer match on September 3, 2023, the Willamette Bearcat team faced off against the St. Thomas Celts at Southwestern University. The final score favored St. Thomas with a 3-1 victory, showcasing their prowess on the field.

The first half saw St. Thomas taking control of the game early on. At the 28:49 mark, Dany Ramirez of St. Thomas found the back of the net, courtesy of an assist by Daniel Flores, giving the Celts a 1-0 lead. The Willamette defense had its hands full as St. Thomas (Tex.) continued to press forward, creating several scoring opportunities.

Willamette, determined to make a comeback, started the second half with renewed energy. At 56:46, Lucas Carballo from Willamette made an impressive solo effort, scoring an unassisted goal and leveling the playing field at 1-1. It was a moment of hope for the Bearcats, but the Celts quickly retaliated.

Just a few minutes later, at 59:07, Taty Aleman capitalized on an opportunity, scoring another unassisted goal, putting his team ahead 2-1. Willamette fought hard to equalize once more, but their efforts fell short.

However, just when things were were looking grim for the Bearcats, Willamette got another chance as they were award a penalty kick with just 12 minutes remaining in the match. Yet it wasnt enough as Cristo Gayoso held firm in cage to maintain just one goal against the Celts. 

In the later stages of the match, at 82:09, St. Thomas extended their lead when Daniel Castro converted a penalty kick, making it 3-1 in favor of the Celts. The penalty kick proved to be the decisive moment, sealing the victory for St. Thomas.

Up next, Men's Soccer returns home for their a match with non-conference opponent Concordia! Follow ustcelts.com for all scores and updates.