Price Stops a PK, Earns 12 Saves, as Willamette Ties Linfield, 0-0

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University goalkeeper Nicole Price (Jr., Auburn, WA/Thomas Jefferson HS) stopped a penalty kick and a follow shot by Emily Fellows (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) of Linfield College in the first half, and finished the game with 12 saves overall, helping the Bearcats earn a 0-0 tie against the Wildcats in two overtimes.

Willamette is now 3-5-1 overall, 1-3-1 in the NWC. Linfield is 7-1-1 overall, 3-1-1 in the NWC. It was the first tie of the season for both teams.

A handball was called against the Bearcats in the penalty area as the game reached 29:30. Fellows took the penalty kick for the Wildcats. Price saved the penalty shot, and then kept the rebound shot by Fellows out of the net as well.

The saves were huge, as neither team was able to score in the following 80:30 of playing time in regulation and the two 10-minute overtime periods.

Linfield outshot the Bearcats 11-2 in the first half and held a 10-4 advantage in the second half. Despite the Wildcats' 21-6 advantage in shots, the game was scoreless after 90 minutes, thanks in part to Price, who recorded 11 of her 12 saves in regulation.

The Wildcats gained a 4-1 margin in shots during the overtime sessions to end the game with a 25-7 edge. Linfield achieved a 13-3 advantage in shots on goal.

In the first overtime, a shot by Stephanie Socotch of Linfield following a corner kick was saved off the line by a defender. Later, a shot by Lindzee Baker was saved by Price with 24 seconds left in the period.

Jalyn Halstead from Linfield produced the first shot of the second overtime at 102:37. The shot was blocked by the defense. Willamette's Veronica Ewers (Fr., MF/F, Moscow, ID/Moscow HS) took the final shot of the game at 108:36. It went wide right of the net.

Ewers led Willamette with three total shots during the game, including one shot on goal. Fellows paced Linfield with six total shots, as she registered five shots on goal.

Although Linfield gained a significant margin in shots and shots on goal, the Bearcats still forced the Wildcats' goalie, Taylor Collinsworth, to make three saves. She earned one save in the first half and added two in the second half. Linfield has allowed only two goals this season, with Collinsworth playing most of the minutes in goal.

The Wildcats gained a 9-3 lead in corner kicks against the Bearcats. Each team committed 11 fouls.

Willamette will play again on Sunday, Sept. 30, when they travel to Newberg, Ore., to take on George Fox University. Game time is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).