Pacific Lutheran Defeats Willamette 3-2 in Two Overtimes

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University achieved a huge advantage in total shots, but Pacific Lutheran University rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Bearcats 3-2 in two overtimes on Sunday, Oct. 7. Blake Warner scored both the tying goal and the winning goal for the Lutes.

Pacific Lutheran improved to 4-1-5 overall, 2-1-5 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 4-7-1 overall, 2-5-1 in the NWC.

Warner scored the tying goal at 57:40 directly off a corner kick. She sent the corner kick low and near the goal line. The ball somehow found its way into the net at the near post.

She added the winning goal for PLU on a shot from 23 yards out on the left side that was partially saved by Willamette goalkeeper Nicole Price (Jr., Auburn, WA/Thomas Jefferson HS). The ball trickled into the net with 2:54 left in the second overtime.

Also scoring for the Lutes was Lauren Larson just 6:01 into the game on a break-away. She was assisted on the play by a through pass from Brenna Sussman. It was Larson's seventh goal of the season.

Willamette's goals were achieved by Ariel Wilson (Sr., MF, Fort Collins, CO/Poudre HS) at 20:10 and by Malia Simpson (So., MF, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS) about four minutes later at 24:12. It was the first goal of 2012 for both players.

Wilson's goal was assisted by Ashland Bernard (So., F, Kirkland, WA/Juanita HS) with a cross from the left side that eluded PLU goalkeeper Marisa Gonzalez and allowed Wilson to tap the ball in from two yards out near the right post. Simpson scored an unassisted goal when she put in a shot from 8 yards out during a scramble in front of the goal.

Simpson's shot was the third in rapid succession, as Bernard and Paige Lancourt (Jr., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS) each shot only a few seconds earlier. Both of their shots were blocked.

The Bearcats outshot the Lutes 25-12 in total shots and 10-7 in shots on goal, but Gonzalez earned 8 saves and Willamette barely missed on several shots. Price recorded four saves for Willamette.

WU will host Lewis & Clark College on Wednesday, Oct. 10. Game time at Sparks Field is set for 7 p.m. (PDT). Willamette won at L&C earlier this season, 4-3 in one overtime.