Photo Taken By: Jake Ryan

By: Ryan Lackey

TACOMA, Wash. --- Jose Becerra picked up his fourth goal of the season, but the Bruins lost a hairsplitting match at Linfield on Sunday, 2-1.

Recap:
The match, which saw all three goals in the first half, was remarkably open. The Bruins and Wildcats split 42 shots almost equitably -- the Bruins took 20 -- and each team took four corners. 

After Linfield's Marshall Denley was sent off in the 83rd minute after a bad challenge, the Bruins looked poised to equalize, but Miguel Lopez had two good looks blocked, and Arturo Hernandez saw his good effort saved by Linfield keeper Jorge Rodriguez.

Linfield's Andrew Fisher opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Collecting a loose ball beyond the eighteen, Fisher took a touch and ripped a shot beyond Sotelo to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. The Bruins, though, maintained possession as the first half progressed and were rewarded in the 31st minute. Jose Becerra, tied after Sunday with Lopez as the Bruins' second-leading scorer, placed his shot perfectly beyond Rodriguez to claim an unassisted goal and tie the game, 1-1.

Keeping with the game's wide-open nature, Linfield scored again minutes later. After an excellent save from Sotelo on a screamer from Moi Diaz, Rhys Lendio jumped on the rebound and tucked it away, restoring Linfield's lead.

Though the second half was as offensive and open as the first, neither team could manage to find the back of the net. The Bruins came close around the 70th minute, when sustained buildup saw Victor Garcia flash his headed shot wide and Miguel Lopez just miss the far post.

After Denley's straight red, the Bruins poured forward and won a few open looks, but Rodriguez's good save on Arturo Hernandez's shot sealed the match for the Bruins.

Top Performers:
Lopez led the Bruins with seven shots; Hernandez took just three but kept two on frame. Bruin keeper Ricardo Sotelo did well against Linfield's 22 shots, making nine saves.

What It Means:
The loss means the Bruins sit at 6-9-2 and 3-6-2 in the Northwest Conference with 11 points. Furthermore, though now in fifth, the Bruins are a single point behind Linfield, who pass the Bruins and move into fourth.

What Comes Next:
The Bruins have a shot to regain fourth next Saturday, when they host Willamette.