Willamette Ends 2011 Season Ranked #9 in West Region

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's soccer team concluded the 2011 season ranked #9 in the West Region of NCAA Division III in the final regular season poll released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Willamette, which earned a 9-4 record over the final 13 games of the season, finished 11-8-1 overall and took third place in the Northwest Conference with a 10-5-1 record.

Seven Bearcats received All-NWC honors. Stephanie Skelly (Sr., MF, Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS), the leading scorer in the NWC with 16 goals and 5 assists for 37 total points, was named First Team All-NWC and was chosen NWC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year. She completed her Willamette career with 35 goals and 7 assists.

Andi Rowan (Jr., MF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) was selected Second Team All-NWC after combining steady play on both offense and defense with one goal and three assists. Rowan's play was important to securing control of the midfield.

Five WU players were selected for Honorable Mention. They were Sabine Wetzel (So., D, Martinez, CA/Campolindo HS), Shannon Scott (Jr., D, Bellevue, WA/Sammamish HS), Ariel Wilson (Jr., MF, Fort Collins, CO/Poudre HS), Ashland Bernard (Fr., F, Kirkland, WA/Juanita HS) and Sarah Desautels (Fr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS).

Willamette's season featured key NWC victories over Linfield College, 3-1 on Sept. 25, and the University of Puget Sound, 2-1 on Oct. 23. The Bearcats scored 37 goals on offense and recorded five shutouts on defense.

Head Coach Hillary Arthur, in her fourth season at Willamette, was chosen NWC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year. She has attained a 39-36-5 (.519) record with the Bearcats.

At the top of the final regular season West Region Rankings was Trinity University (Texas) with an undefeated record of 20-0-0. Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) was ranked #2 with a 19-1-0 record and California Lutheran University was #3 at 20-1-1. Puget Sound held the #4 ranking with a record of 14-3-2. The University of Texas-Dallas was listed at #5 with a 16-4-0 record.

Linfield was ranked #6 at 14-3-3, while Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) was ranked #7 at 10_6-1. The University of Redlands held the #8 spot with a 10-6-1 record. Willamette was #9 at 11-8-1 and the University of California-Santa Cruz was #10 at 9-7-2.