Bearcats and Lutes Tie in Women's Soccer, 0-0 in Two Overtimes

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's soccer team tied Pacific Lutheran University 0-0 in two overtimes on Sunday, Oct. 13, as the Bearcats earned their first point in the Northwest Conference standings this season. The Bearcats moved their record to 2-9-1 overall, including 0-7-1 in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran went to 5-3-4 on the season, 3-1-4 in the NWC.

WU goalkeeper Emily Sewall (Fr., Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) achieved four saves for the Bearcats and registered a shutout in her first-ever start. She played all 110 minutes. Defender Brenna McGown (Jr., D, Boise, ID/Boise HS) helped out by clearing the ball off the goal line on a shot in the first half.

For Pacific Lutheran, Marisa Gonzalez played the first half in goal, while Takara Mitsui was in goal for the second half and both overtimes. Mitsui earned three saves.

McGown made the key play of the first half when she cleared a shot off the line at 33:17 following a corner kick.

As McGown was preparing to defend the corner, she noticed that a teammate guarding the near post had to leave to mark an attacking player. McGown talked with Sewall before filling in at the near post. McGown was in the right place and kicked the ball away when Alex Murray of PLU took a low shot.

Gradually, Willamette gained more of the possession. The Bearcats kept the ball for a significant amount of time in the second half, but didn't create many shots. At the end of regulation, Pacific Lutheran owned a 12-3 advantage in shots, including a 5-1 edge in shots on goal.

During the overtime periods, the Bearcats accumulated five shots, while PLU managed two shots. Two of WU's shots were by Sarah Desautels (Jr., MF/F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS).

Just 37 seconds into the first overtime, Kinsey Keene (Fr., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS) of Willamette took a shot that required Mitsui to make a save.

Nicoya Benham-Marin of Pacific Lutheran had a shot at 95:48 that went wide left. Desautels shot for Willamette from about 28 yards at 96:42 and just missed scoring near the top left corner of the goal.

Veronica Ewers (So., MF, Moscow, ID/Moscow HS) of WU and Kaylie Rozell from PLU each shot wide left early in the second overtime. Malia Simpson (Jr., MF, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS) put a shot on target for the Bearcats at 107:50, but Mitsui caught the ball near the top of the six-yard box.

Desautels had the last shot of the game with 1:18 remaining. Her shot went to the left of the goal, and neither team recorded a shot in final minute of play.

PLU outshot Willamette 14-8 overall, including 5-3 in shots on goal. Both teams earned six corner kicks.

There were 35 fouls called -- 20 on WU and 15 on PLU -- during the game. Kristi D'Alessandro of Pacific Lutheran received a yellow card late in the first half and Paige Lancourt (Sr., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS) of Willamette was issued a yellow card just over four minutes into the second half.

The Bearcats ended a nine-game losing streak, including seven consecutive losses in NWC action. Six of the nine overall losses were by one goal.

Willamette will play again on Wednesday, Oct. 16, when the Bearcats travel to Portland, Ore., to take on Lewis & Clark College. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).