Willamette Set for Home Opener Against Warner Pacific

By Mark Colachico, Interim Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- For the first time this season, the Willamette University womens soccer team will step onto its home pitch Saturday against Cascade Collegiate Conference member Warner Pacific College beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Sparks Field.

After back-to-back games last weekend in Southern California at the Best Western Inn Thousand Oaks Classic to open the 2014 season, the Bearcats look to earn their first win of the year against the winless Knights.

So far this season, the Bearcats only goal came off the foot of Emmy Manset (Fr., F, Ventura, CA/Foothill Technology HS) in the 75th minute against Redlands in her collegiate debut. In between the pipes, Emily Sewell (So., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) has faced 24 shots in 180 minutes of action and registered six saves.

This season, Willamette is led by 11 upperclassmen six seniors and five juniors with the majority of its roster (57% - seven sophomores and eight freshmen) having one year or less of collegiate experience.

Seventh-year Head Coach Hillary Arthur looks to continue the Bearcats success from last season, as Willamette closed out its 2013 schedule with a 3-3-3 record over its final nine games. Arthur and the Bearcats come into this years home opener riding the thrill of their last-second, double-overtime victory over George Fox last season on Senior Day. With three seconds left in the final period, Jill Phillips scored the games lone goal via a header off a corner kick from Sarah Desautels for the dramatic win that closed out the Bearcats home schedule.

Warner Pacific comes into Saturdays contest with a 0-3-1 record, as the Knights will play their fourth road game of the season. Former Corban University player Holly Popenuk embarks on her second season at the helm of the Knights after leading WPC to a 3-8-1 (2-6-1 CCC) mark that included an eighth place finish in the final league standings.

So far this season, Crystal Foster and Ashley Valencia are tied for the team leads in goals with one and points with two each. The Knights have split time in goal this season between Allie Holterman and Cathy Lara with Holterman getting all three starts, while Lara has seen a majority of the minutes between the pipes this year for WPC. In just under 140 minutes this season, Holterman has allowed only one goal on 24 shots with a team-leading 14 saves.

Willamette will continue its home schedule on Friday, September 12th, against CCC member Northwest Christian University at 5:00 p.m. on Sparks Field to kick off the Bearcats Alumni Weekend/Homecoming schedule.