SEATTLE, Wash. – The Oregon State men’s soccer team wrapped up the 2016 season in style, earning a 1-0 road victory over No. 14 Washington Thursday evening in Seattle, Wash.

With the win, Oregon State (7-8-3, 3-5-2 Pac-12) ends the year with three victories in its last four matches, including two victories over ranked opponents (No. 21 San Diego State and No. 14 Washington).

“It’s fitting to send our three seniors out with a win tonight,” said Oregon State head coach Steve Simmons. “We’ve played our best soccer of the year during the back half of Pac-12 play. It’s unfortunate that time ran out on this bunch, because we might be among the top-form teams in the nation. This will be motivation for all of us over the next 10 months. Next year can’t come quickly enough.”

Freshman midfielder David Norman Jr. scored the game’s only goal, calmly converting a penalty kick in the 23^rd minute.

Redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Ryan Vincent came up with three saves to hold his second clean sheet of the season.

Junior Timmy Mueller created the Beavers’ best scoring chance of the opening 15 minutes, hammering a rocket on frame that forced a save.  Oregon State would follow that up by taking the lead in the 23^rd minute. Sophomore Don Tchilao was taken down in the box to draw the OSU spot-kick, which Norman ultimately buried.

Junior forward Jordan Jones created a couple scoring opportunities late in the first half, but was unable to convert, as the Beavers took a one-goal lead into the intermission. Oregon State placed five of its six first-half shots on frame.

Tchilao took the Beavers first shot of the second half, firing high from the right side of the box.

Mueller came within inches of doubling the Oregon State advantage in the 64^th minute. The junior got on the end of a cross from freshman defender Eric Diaz, but his shot hit the crossbar. Jones followed that up with a shot that rolled just wide of goal.

Washington (13-6-0, 7-4-0) would make a late push to level the score, but the Beaver back-line of Diaz, Jalen Markey, Frazer Poulter and Zach Striar held firm to lock down the Oregon State victory.

The Beavers graduate three seniors from the 2016 squad, Striar, Devonte Small and Matt Arbogast. Oregon State will return an exciting group of players in 2017, including its two leading scorers, Jones and Mueller.

For more information on the Oregon State men’s soccer team, follow the club’s official Twitter account at Twitter.com/@BeaverMSoccer.

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