Bearcats Fall to Whitman, 1-0, in Northwest Conference Action

By Mark Colachico, Interim Assistant Athletics Communications Director

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- In its second Northwest Conference road game of the week, Willamette University could not muster much offense falling to Whitman College (Wash.), 1-0, Saturdayon the Whitman Athletic Fields.

With the win, Whitman improves to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in Northwest Conference games. Meanwhile, Willamette falls to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in NWC matches.

In the opening 20 minutes, Willamette had a scoring chance when Sarah Desautels (Sr., MF/F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Park HS) rifled a shot at 20:23 that was blocked by a Whitman defender. That was the only offense that the Bearcats would produce throughout the first half.

Just over seven minutes later, Whitman would score the game's only goal when Brianna Brown took a crossing pass from Emma Onstad-Hawes and scored the eventual game-winner. Whitman made a quick transition off a Willamette turnover and possessed down the right touch line with Onstad-Hawes finally rolling into the box on the right. Her short flick across the goal found Brown uncovered seven yards out where she knocked home her second goal of the season.

Willamette could not muster much offense over the opening 45 minutes, as the Missionaries carried that one-goal lead and a 3-1 advantage in shots into the halftime break.

Coming out of the break, Willamette madea brief pushover theopening 14 minutes ofthe second half only to have Whitman's goalkeeper rise to the occasion beforeshe and the Missionary defense shut downthe Bearcatsover the final 31 minutes.

WU goalkeeper Emily Sewell (So., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS)sufferedthe tough loss in goal for Willamette despite making one save, while Whitman's Haley Case tallied a game-high three saves en route to securing the shutout victory.

Overall,Whitman ended the game with atwo-shot advantage (6-to-4)with Willamette earning the edgein shots on goal (4-to-3).The host Missionariesearned four corner kicks versus Willamette's three, whilethe Bearcatswas whistled for four offside calls compared to Whitman's one.

Willamette will return to actiontomorrow -Sunday, Sept. 21 -against WhitworthUniversity (Wash.). Game time is slated for 12 p.m. (PDT) in Spokane, Washington.