Boxers Slip Past Bearcats, 1-0, in Northwest Conference Match-up

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Breezy Brookbank of Pacific University scored the game's only goal at 71:44 and the Boxers maintained their slim 1-0 lead the rest of the way to defeat Willamette University on Sunday, Sept. 18 at Sparks Field. Pacific upped its record to 4-1-1 overall and to 2-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 3-3-0 on the season, 0-2 in the NWC.

The game included very few strong scoring chances, as each team placed just two shots on goal. Even so, Willamette nearly took a lead in the first half when a shot by Shanna Keil (Fr., M, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) hit the crossbar at 12:51.

A bit later, Jenae Arnold (Fr., M, Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) of Willamette took a shot that was kept out of the net when a defender blocked it about five yards in front of the goal.

The first half ended with the Bearcats holding a 5-3 edge in total shots, as both teams had one shot on goal. Emily Sewall (Sr., GK, Petaluma, CA/Casa Grande HS), who played the opening 45 minutes in goal for Willamette, recorded the only goalkeeper save of the half when she made a routine stop on a shot by Brookbank in the second minute.

Both teams continued to play well on defense in the second half, with each squad recording just one shot on goal. WU gained a 5-4 advantage in shots over the final 45 minutes to end the game with a 10-7 margin.

Brookbank set up her goal by blocking a kick by Bearcat goalkeeper Kristen Barclay (Fr., GK, Kenmore, WA/Cedar Park Christian School). Barclay, who played the entire second half, was attempting to clear the ball upfield, but Brookbank deflected the pass.

As the ball bounced toward the goal line just barely wide of the goal, Brookbank put it into the net with a tap-in near the right post. It was Brookbank's second goal of the season.

Hannah Deighton (Fr., M, Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Polytechnic HS) of Willamette earned a header for the Bearcats at 85:02, but her shot immediately bounced off a defender and went out of bounds. Willamette did not take a shot on the ensuing corner kick.

Willamette had an throw-in from about 18 yards out with just over a minute remaining in the game. Madelynn Ellis (Sr., D, Lake Oswego, OR/Lake Oswego HS) thew the ball into the penalty area, where the ball bounced off several players before Pacific was able to clear the ball.

Emmy Manset (Jr., F, Ventura, CA/Foothill Technology HS) of Willamette and Holly Chang-Northway of Pacific each finished the game with three total shots. Kailey Hifumi earned the shutout in goal for the Boxers and finished the game with one save.

The Bearcats will play at Whitman College on Saturday, Sept. 24. Game time in Walla Walla, Washington, is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).