By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette goalkeeper Mason Kelliher (Jr., Wellington, N.Z./Wellington College) has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Men's Soccer Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week. Kelliher helped Willamette go 2-0-1 during a stretch of three games in four days, while playing 240 minutes in goal.
Kelliher was the goalie for the Bearcats during all 200 minutes of the first two games, and then played the final 39:58 in the third game. He allowed just one goal for a 0.38 goals against average during the week. The Bearcats won at the University of California, Santa Cruz, 3-1, on Sept. 6, as Kelliher earned three saves. He added five saves in a 0-0 double-overtime tie against Albion College (Mich.) for a complete-game shutout on Sept. 7. On Sept. 9 against Wisconsin Lutheran College he entered the game with WU trailing 3-0, but did not allow a goal as the Bearcats rallied for a 4-3 win in overtime.
For the season, the Bearcats are 3-1-1. Willamette has scored 12 goals while allowing just seven goals.
The Bearcats' next game is against Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 2:30 p.m. It will be the NWC opener for both teams. Last year, the Bearcats and the Lutes tied for the NWC Championship with Willamette winning the tie-breaker to receive the NWC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament. WU will stay in Tacoma on Sunday, Sept. 16 to take on University of Puget Sound at 2:30 p.m.