MENS SOCCER
MEIER NAMED NWC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AS BEARCATS WIN TWO OF THREE
The 2005 edition of the Willamette mens soccer team got off to a good start by winning two of their first three games of the season this past weekend. Saturday, the Bearcats defeated California State University-Hayward 1-0, and they followed that up with a 2-0 win over Augsburg on Sunday. Monday, though, saw Willamette lose 5-0 to the University of California Santa Cruz.
Goalkeeper Dane Meier (SR, Reno, Nev.) was named Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the week after posting two shutouts.
In Saturdays game at CSU-Hayward, sophomore Trevor Jones (Portland, Ore.) kicked the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Bearcats the 1-0 win. Jones earned honorable mention NWC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his goal.
Against Augsburg, Donald Bressler (SR, Seattle, Wash.) and Zach Seilo (JR, Bellingham, Wash.) each scored goals to power the Bearcats offense.
The Bearcats only game this week is Saturday, when they host Corban College at the Cascade FC facilty at 5201 State Street. Game-time is 2 pm.
WOMENS SOCCER
BEARCATS WIN FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON ON NEW HOME FIELD
After losing their first two games of the season on a trip to Illinois, the Willamette womens soccer team returned home to a renovated Sparks field and picked up their first win of the year with a 5-0 defeat of the College of St. Benedict on Sunday night.
Laura Uhlmansiek (JR, Woodinville, Wash.) and Michelle Gregoire (JR, Olympia, Wash.) both had two goals apiece to pace the Bearcats on Sunday. Freshman Emily Gross (Medford, Ore.) scored the other goal for Willamette.
Sundays win was the first game played on the revamped Sparks Field. This summer, field turf was installed to replace grass, and lights were installed to allow the play of night games.
The Bearcats trip to Illinois did provide some positive moments despite the two losses, as they took the top-ranked team in the nation, Wheaton College, into double overtime before falling 3-2 on Friday.
Jessica Lammers (JR, Concord, Calif.) scored the games first goal on an assist from senior Brenna Hindman (Boulder, Colo.), and Gross picked up her first collegiate goal to later give Willamette a 2-1 lead.
Saturday, the Bearcats lost 1-0 to No. 17 Depauw University.
Uhlmansiek was named honorable mention NWC Offensive Player of the Week for her two goals and two assists versus the College of St. Benedict. Goalie Kari Woody (JR, Boise, Ida.) received honorable mention NWC Defensive Player of the Week honors for recording 19 saves in the three games.
Willamette will play Corban College at 7 pm. Saturday night. Oroginally scheduled as an away game, the match will now be held at Sparks Field.
FOOTBALL
BEARCATS HOST SECOND RANKED MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR THIS SATURDAY
The Bearcats football team is looking to rebound from their season opening 35-0 loss to Western Oregon last weekend, but things wont get any easier for them as they host nationally ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor this Saturday at 1:30 pm at McCulloch Stadium.
The Crusaders, who are ranked second in the latest D3football.com Top 25 poll, were the national runner-up last season, losing 28-21 to Linfield. Mary Hardin-Baylor defeated Willamette last season 25-22 in overtime.
Saturday, the Bearcats will look to duplicate the success they had on the ground last year against Mary Hardin-Baylor, when they gained 289 yards and almost pulled out the win at the Crusaders home field in Belton, Texas.
In last weeks game against Western Oregon, the Bearcats offense had little success, amassing just 172 yards of total offense, with 70 of that coming on the ground. Last season, Willamette averaged over 250 yards a game rushing.
Defensively for the Bearcats against Western Oregon, safety Tim Alton (JR, Oregon City, Ore.) totaled 14 tackles, ten of them solo. Senior linebacker Megdy Khoury (Elko, Nev.) added 11.
WOMENS VOLLEYBALL
BEARCATS DROP FIRST FOUR MATCHES OF THE SEASON
The Willamette womens volleyball opened their 2005 season with four consecutive losses at the Pacific Invitational in Forest Grove this past weekend.
Friday saw the Bearcats lose their first match to Baldwin Wallace in the three games, and their second match to California State University-East Bay in four games.
Senior Roni Schneider (Keizer, Ore.) recorded 43 digs against CSEB, which ranks ninth all-time in NCAA Division III for four game matches. That effort earned Schneider NWC honorable mention Player of the Week honors.
On Saturday, the Bearcats lost 3-1 to both Gustavus Adolphus and Mt. St. Joseph.
Sophomore setter Jessica Drumm (Salem, Ore.) totaled 113 assists over the four games, while freshman Kelley Lindstrom (Banks, Ore.) had 42 kills.
The Bearcats are off this week, and return to action on Friday, September 16, with a 7 pm home match against Puget Sound.