Bearcats Outscore Pioneers, 4-3, on Penalty Kick by Jones with 3:35 Left

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Senior forward Lacey Jones (Portland, OR/David Douglas HS) scored on a penalty kick for Willamette University with 3:35 left in regulation to send the Bearcats to a 4-3 Northwest Conference victory over Lewis & Clark College on Wednesday, March 31 at Sparks Field. Lewis & Clark had tied the score at 3-3 on goals with 6:29 and 4:45 left, but the penalty kick by Jones just 50 seconds later sealed the win for the Bearcats.

Willamette improved to 2-4-0 on the season, 2-4-0 in the NWC. Lewis & Clark dropped to 2-4-1 overall, 2-4-1 in the NWC.

Caroline Adams (Sr., M, Snohomish, WA/Archbishop Murphy HS) of Willamette opened the scoring just 3:34 into the contest when she shot from eight yards near the top of the goalie box into the lower left corner of the goal. Emma Blackburn (Jr., F, Los Altos, CA/Saint Francis HS) earned an assist on the play.

L&C tied the score at 1-1 on a goal by Brecklyn Beighle at 22;20. Bieghle took a direct free kick from 14 yards out and several yards to the left of the 18-yard box. Her shot landed low and into the net near the right corner.

The Bearcats regained the lead on a goal by Sydney Wilson (Jr., M, Olympia, WA/Capital HS) at 36:17 following a corner kick. Jackie Gilroy (So., F, Mercer Island, WA/Mercer Island HS) took the corner and sent the ball toward Wilson, who scored on a header from nine yards that went high into the center of the net. WU led 2-1 at halftime.

Willamette extended its lead to 3-1 when Balckburn scored after a nifty move down the right wing that allowed her to take the ball into the penalty area. She shot from eight yards on the right side, placing the ball in the lower left of the goal at 69:42.

The comeback by the Pioneers to tie the game at 3-3 started with a goal by Anjali Kothari at 83:31 on an assist from Courtney Schmidt. Kothari scored on a shot from 19 yards and a bit to the left of center. Less than two minutes later, Caitlin Gallagher provided L&C with the equalizer at 85:15. She shot from 15 yards after receiving a pass from Beighle.

WU took the lead for the final time at 86:25 after Joleigh Miller (So., D, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) was fouled inside the L&C penalty area. Jones took the penalty kick and blasted the ball into the upper right corner.

The Bearcats outshot the Pioneers 22-3 overall, including a 14-1 advantage in the first half. Willamette claimed a 10-3 edge in shots on goal and a 14-4 lead in corner kicks. WU goalkeeper Grasiela Quevedo-Ramos (Sr., GK, Salem, OR/West Salem HS) played all 90 minutes to achieve the win. L&C goalie Sophia Young also played the enter game and registered five saves.

It was Senior Night for the Bearcats, who honored Jones, Adams, and Quevedo-Ramos prior to the game. Jones and Adams each contributed to the goal scoring for Willamette during the game, while the complete-game effort from Quevedo-Ramos helped the defense limit the number of scoring opportunities for Lewis & Clark.

Willamette will play the Pioneers again on Saturday, April 3 in Portland, Oregon. Game time at Griswold Stadium on the L&C campus is set for 3 p.m. (PDT).