Bearcats Surprise Wildcats, 3-1, Behind Two Goals from Skelly

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

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Stephanie Skelly (Sr., MF, Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) scored two goals and Sarah Desautels (Fr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS) added a goal and an assist, leading Willamette University to a 3-1 victory over Northwest Conference rival Linfield College on Sunday, Sept. 25. WU led 2-0 before Linfield cut the margin to a single goal. Skelly tacked on an insurance goal with just under six minutes remaining.

Willamette improved to 3-4-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the NWC. Linfield dropped to 5-2-1 on the season, 2-1-1 in the NWC.

All of the scoring occurred in the final 24 minutes after the teams went well past halftime tied at 0-0.

Skelly opened the offensive show by taking the ball past defenders and shooting into the net at 66:58. Desautels increased WU's lead to 2-0 with her first goal as a Bearcat just 2:25 later at 69:23. DeSautels shot the ball around Linfield's defenders and across the goal line.

Less than three minutes later, MacKenzie Doty of Linfield hit the net at 72:18. She scored from several yards on an open shot.

The better part of 12 minutes passed without another score before Skelly's insurance goal for Willamette. Desautels passed the ball to Skelly, who took an open shot and put it into the goal at 84:03.

Linfield concluded the game with a 19-9 advantage in total shots. The Wildcats held a slim margin of 7-6 in shots on goal and owned a 9-2 edge in corner kicks.

Skelly led all players with five total shots, including four shots on goal. Desautels added three shots -- two on goal -- for the Bearcats. Linfield's offense was led by Doty along with Zoe Langsdorf, as each took four shots with two shots on goal.

WU goalkeeper Gina Barbieri (Fr., Medford, OR/St. Mary's School) improved to 2-0-1 in goal by making her third straight complete-game appearance. She thwarted Linfield's chances with six saves.

Apolonia Martinez achieved three saves in goal for the Wildcats.

Willamette's next game is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1, when the Bearcats will host Pacific University at Sparks Field in Salem, Ore. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).