Women's Soccer set to Host Puget Sound

By Evan Giddings, Student Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's soccer team will take on the Puget Sound University Loggers this Saturday, Oct. 25 at home. Game time is set for 12 p.m. (PDT) on Sparks Field.

Willamette enters the match with a 2-12-1 overall record and a 1-9-1 NWC record. This past week, the Bearcats fell to rival Linfield College, 4-0, on Saturday, Oct. 18, but had a much better showing on Sunday, Oct. 19, as they outshotGeorge Fox University, but dropped a close contest by a score of 1-0.

WU took took 26 shots, including 11 shots on goal compared to the seven shots with three on goal that George Fox attempted. However, in the 87th minute, the Bruins were able to find a window of opportunity and Sarah Tuemmler shot the ball into the left side of the net past goalkeeper Emily Sewall (So., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS) for the game-winning goal.

Jill Phillips (Jr., MF/GK, Fairbanks, AK/West Valley HS) is the Bearcats' top scorer with three goals and three assists for nine total points. Veronica Ewers (Jr., MF, Moscow, ID/Moscow HS) has scored two goals. Kinsey Keene (So., MF, Eagle, ID/Eagle HS) and Rachel Fleener (Jr., F, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) each have added one goal and one assist.

Sewall has played all 1,370 minutes for Willamette this season, third best in the Northwest Conference. She is also ranked fourth in the NWC with 53 saves to go with her three shutouts.

The 'Cats will try to maintain their offensive pressure they displayed against George Fox for their match-up against a Logger team that is tied for first in the NWC standings and has been notorious this season for its defensive play.

Currently sitting at 8-2 in conference play and 10-3 overall, Puget Sound has allowed only five goals throughout the entirety of their NWC schedule. They have scored 20 goals in NWC action and are currently on a four-game winning streak.

If the Bearcats are to break this streak they are going to have to keep an eye out for Amalia Acorda-Fey (Jr., MF), who is the second leading scorer in the NWC with 16 points. She has scored seven goals assists and dished out two assists this year, while also recording three game-winners.

On the defensive side, the Loggers are headed by Lauren Thomas (So., GK), who is third in the NWC with a 0.62 goals allowed average and ranks second in shutouts, having recorded six. She has played all 1,154 minutes for her team this season.

Earlier this year, Puget Sound bested Willamette 5-2 back on Sept. 28 in Tacoma, Wash. Keene and Sarah Desautels (Sr., MF/F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Park HS) each scored for the Bearcats.