STOCKTON, Calif. --- Portland freshman Jake Arteaga scored a pair of goals, but Pacific's Jonathan Jimenez registered a hat trick to fuel a 3-2, comeback win for the Tigers as they shocked the No. 11 Pilots in a West Coast Conference men's soccer game played on Saturday night at Knoles Field. Jimenez's three goals came within three minutes of each after Arteaga had given the Pilots the lead.
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After a scoreless first half, Arteaga's first goal came on a corner kick in the 62nd minute. Greg Tracey sent in the initial ball towards the far post. Esteban Calvo then hit it across the goal mouth, and Arteaga finished with a header to hand the visiting side a 1-nil lead.
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But the Tigers (10-4-2, 4-2-0 WCC) provided a response, and it came quickly. Camden Riley had possession near the right touch line and sent a long ball into the area towards the far post. That's where Jimenez elevated and finished with a header, leveling the score 1-1.
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Less than a minute later, it was Jimenez again, this time getting on the end of a through ball from Riley, and he planted a shot inside the near post. He then completed the hat trick when he was able to put in a shot after a cross from Anthony Orendain.
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Arteaga pulled one back for the Pilots in the 77th minute with his third goal of the year. A ball sent into the area took a high bounce before finding the feet of the Portland freshman, and he easily slotted it in to make it a 3-2 game in Pacific's favor.
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The Pilots then searched for the equalizer, and Arteaga sent a header high of the crossbar in the 82nd minute. Greg Tracey then had a shot blocked in the 86th minute, and Gio Magana-Rivera had an attempt denied in the 87th minute as the Tigers would hold on for the clutch win.
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The loss sets up a huge game at Merlo Field next weekend for the ranked Pilots (11-2-3, 3-2-1 WCC), who host the No. 5 and unbeaten Saint Mary's Gaels at Merlo Field on Saturday night. Kickoff for the two WCC rivals is set for 7 p.m. at Merlo Field.
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