Bearcats Tie Missionaries at Sparks Field, 0-0, in Women's Soccer

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University and Whitman College played to a 0-0 tie in two overtimes on Sunday, Nov. 2 in a Northwest Conference women's soccer game at Sparks Field. Goalkeepers Emily Sewall (So., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) of Willamette and Haley Case of Whitman each recorded a 110-minute shutout.

The Bearcats ended the game with a 2-14-2 overall record, including 1-11-2 in the NWC. Whitman moved to 8-7-4 on the season, 6-5-4 in the NWC.

Willamette got stronger as the game progressed.

The Missionaries took the game's first two shots in the opening minutes. A scoring attempt by Brianna Brown of Whitman was blocked at 2:37, and a shot by Lena de Guzman was saved by Sewall at 3:13. Whitman continued to control the ball, but didn't get another shot until Naomi Lee struck the ball at 19:12

After Lee's shot, the Bearcats gradually began to gain more possession. Sarah Desautels (Sr., MF/F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Park HS) took Willamette's first shot at 24:54, but the ball went wide right.

Willamette and Whitman battled for nearly another 20 minutes before Desautels had the best opportunity of the half, a shot from 16-yards on the left side of the field at 43:38. Case registered a save by reaching low near the left post.

Whitman held a 3-2 lead in shot at halftime, but the Bearcats outshot the Missionaries 9-4 in the second half. A shot by Desautels at 54:30 was blocked by Nicolette Carnahan near the right post. After Clara Merlino missed wide right on a header for Whitman at 56:01, Desautels unleashed a shot that was saved by Case at 57:02.

The Bearcats achieved several other opportunities, including a shot by Megan Lacy (Fr., D, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) that missed wide left at 78:29 following a corner kick.

Marley Duncan (Fr., F, Pukalani, HI/Kamehameha School) of WU earned a shot at 82:00 that went high, while Emmy Manset (Fr., F, Ventura, CA/Foothill Technology HS) shot wide to the left at 88:59.

In the first overtime, Willamette added three shots and Whitman took one. Lacy forced a save by Case just 1:51 into overtime on a shot from 18 yards in the middle of the field. Brown of Whitman missed wide left nearly four minutes later.

Jill Phillips (Jr., MF/GK, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS) of WU had a shot blocked at 97:55. Desautels followed up five seconds later with a shot that was saved by Case.

Both teams battled in the second overtime, but only one shot was recorded. It was a header by Merlino of Whitman that Sewall saved at 104:54.

Case finished with four saves for Whitman, while Sewell registered three saves for Willamette. The Bearcats attained a 14-9 edge in shots and a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal.

Desautels led all players with six total shots and four shots on goal. Merlino achieved three shots for the Missionaries, including three shots on goal.

Willamette will host Pacific Lutheran University on Friday, Nov. 7. Game time at Sparks Field is set for 11 a.m. (PST).