Bearcats Edge Bruins 1-0 on Goal by Phillips with :03 Left in Second Overtime

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's soccer team outshot George Fox University, 36-5, but it appeared the game would end in a scoreless tie, until Jill Phillips (So., MF, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS) scored on the game's final shot with three seconds left in the second overtime, sending the Bearcats to a 1-0 win over the Bruins on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Phillips scored on a header near the left post following a cross on a corner kick by Sarah Desautels (Jr., MF/F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS). The corner kick was earned with just 14 seconds remaining, forcing Desautels, who was the closest Bearcat to the corner flag, to set up quickly. Her line-drive cross was right on target for Phillips to attack.

The goal was the first of her Willamette career for Phillips in her second season with the Bearcats. Phillips has been a solid defensive midfielder, and has gradually contributed more at the offensive end. Prior to the last-second play, Phillips took five of Willamette's seven corner kicks in the second half.

Willamette advanced its record to 4-9-2 on the season and to 2-7-2 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats have earned a 2-0-2 record in their last four games and gave played more than four-and-a-half games -- including six overtime periods -- without allowing a goal in 482 minutes and 52 seconds.

The game might have been won by the Bearcats in regulation, but George Fox goalkeeper Alyssa Montero registered 13 saves during the game, including 11 in the first and second half. She made several outstanding saves, highlighted by an all-out diving effort to deflect an 18-yard shot by Rachel Fleener (Fr., F, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) wide of the goal at 77:04.

For the season, Montero has accumulated 114 saves in 12 games. She recorded 21 saves in a 0-0 tie with the University of Puget Sound on Sept. 28 and achieved 13 saves in a 2-1 win over Willamette on Oct. 5.

In addition to outshooting GFU by 21 shots overall, the Bearcats also finished with a 15-3 advantage in shots on goal. Desautels took a total of 13 shots for WU, including six shots on goal. She forced Montero to make several quality saves and just missed wide of the goal on a couple of other attempts.

Fleener and Paige Lancourt (Sr., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS) each provided the Bearcats with five total shots and two shots on goal. Emma Sanders (Fr., MF, Kennewick, WA/Southridge HS) added four shots.

Despite its limited offensive chances, George Fox nearly scored late in regulation and in the overtime.

Hannah Harder hit the top of the crossbar on a shot from 25 yards out at 85:30 and placed a shot just high at 96:00. Tenlee Holser blasted a shot from 38 yards on a free kick with two seconds left in the first overtime that WU goalkeeper Nicole Price (Sr., Auburn, WA/Thomas Jefferson HS) pushed wide as time expired.

Michelle Young took a shot from distance early in the second overtime that went at Price, who achieved a save.

Willamette outshot GFU 27-2 in regulation, with an 18-1 margin in the second half. The seven corner kicks earned by the Bearcats in the second half led to a 9-1 edge in corner kicks for the match.

Prior to the game, Willamette honored its three seniors: Lancourt, Price and Stephanie Kruger (Sr., D, West Linn, OR/West Linn HS), who were playing in their final home game.

The Bearcats will conclude the season with five consecutive road games, starting on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the University of Puget Sound. Game time in Tacoma, Wash., is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).