Bearcats Net Most Goals Since 2003 in Win Over Beacons, 7-0

By Mark Colachico, Interim Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- In a one-side contest, Willamette University tallied five goals in the opening 45 minutes en route to a 7-0 non-conference win over Northwest Christian University (Ore.) Friday at Sparks Field.

Having scored only one goal so far this season, the Bearcats increased their season total throughout the night behind a 25-5 advance in shots that included a 15-3 difference in shots on goal.

Willamette got on the board in the eighth minute when junior Jill Phillips (Jr., MF, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS) tallied her first of two goals on night off an assist by Kinsey Keene (So., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS). The scoring play would begin with a perfectly placed pass from Keene to Phillips, who one-timed a shot into the back of the net for the eventual game-winning goal.

Phillips would add her second goal of the night in the 32nd minute when she teamed with McKenzie Andringa (Jr., MF, Yakima, WA/La Salle HS) from 22 yards out. The junior combo would team from the first time this season on a shot into the middle of the net from the left side extending the Bearcats' lead to two goals.

Just over three minutes later, Veronica Ewers (Jr., MF, Moscow, ID/Moscow HS) got into the scoring act with her first goal of the season off a combo assist by Phillips and Rachel Fleener (Jr., F, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) in the 35th minute. Fleener would begin the play with a pass from the sideline into the box where Phillips quickly one-timed a pass across the mouth of the goal to Ewers, who tapped home the goal after she raced up the sideline and found a wide-open pocket in the Beacons' defense.

Fleener would add Willamette's fourth goal to the scoreboard in the 42nd minute on an unassisted goal when she collected a loose ball in the box and poked it into the back of the net for her first score of the year.

In the final seconds of the first half, Krista Lauer (Sr., D, San Diego, CA/Francis Parker HS) headed home the fifth and final goal of the opening 45 minutes off a perfectly placed corner kick by Kelsey Walker (Fr., MF, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS). With only 19 seconds on the clock, Lauer extended the Bearcats' lead to five goals heading into halftime.

Emma Sanders (So., MF, Kennwick, WA/Southridge HS) pushed Willamette's lead to six goals in the 55th minute when she teamed with Walker on her first goal of the season. Walker would begin the scoring play with a corner kick that went off Sander's head before bouncing off the hands of NCU's keeper and rolling into the net.

Willamette's seventh and final goal would come in the 77th minute when Ewers took a pass from Phillips and rifled a shot off the post and into the back of the net for her second goal of the night.

The seven goals by the Bearcats is the most since September 14, 2003 when Willamette defeated Lakeland College (Wisc.) by the final score of 9-0. Over the past few seasons, Willamette has score five goals on three seperate occasions with the latest coming in a 5-1 victory over Pacific Lutheran on October 22, 2011.

WU goalkeeper Emily Sewell (So., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) picked up her first win of the season behind three saves, while Northwest Christian split time between keepers Kristin Fulbright and Mackenzie Galick with the duo combining for eight saves.

The Bearcats gained a 5-0 edge in corner kicks with two coming in the first half and three more in the second half, while producing the first goals of the season off a pair of corner kicks in each half.

Northwest Christian was led offensively by Stevie Harrison with three shots, while Karlie Mast tallied the other two shots for the visiting Beacons.

Willamette will return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 17, in the Bearcats' Northwest Conference opener against Lewis & Clark College (Ore.). Game time is slated for 7 p.m. PDT in Portland.